Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Question time
Quick bit of blatant plagiarism from Mark Devenport’s blog, but I liked “Stormont spy’s” list of questions:
1. Will Sinn Fein fail to put forward McGuiness?
2. If it does happen will Robinson and McGuiness shakes hands?
3. Is this being done to bring Gerry Adams back to the spotlight?
4. What happens to MLA’s pay? Will it be suspended of the Assembly is dissolved?
5. Does the Executive members give up their departments to direct rule ministers?
6. What can Gordon Brown do?
7. Does the Civil Service go into “purdah”?
And finally to leave you with this… Who has more to lose? McGuiness or Robinson? My pension is on Robinson. Firstly he will lose seats to Sir Reg. Secondly he will lose seats to Jim Bowen (Allister). What happens then? What if Sinn Fein is the largest party? Will Robinson sit down in Government as a deputy?
What I think:
1: Probably, but I remain to be convinced that they’ll push it to an election.
2: Pretty unlikely, it’d be madness on Robinson’s part.
3: Not a bad call.
4: The same thing will happen as in normal election period circumstances - but only if SF refuse to nominate after the 7 day period I think.
5: I’m pretty sure not. I know that in Westminster during an election there are no MPs, but there are ministers. I assume it’s the same here.
6: Threaten to legislate over the DUP’s heads. The 42 day detention vote is looking more and more safe for him, so he will be more disposed to ignore the DUP.
7: No idea.
8: I couldn’t possibly comment.
Michael Shilliday @ 12:03 PM
Isn’t it the largest party of the largest designation that gets the first minister post, under St Andrews? Therefore, isn’t there really very little chance of a SF minister?
Q3 throws up some interesting motivations though…
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:17 PMNo, the DUP had that changed in order to blackmail the electorate into voting for them.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060053_en_3#pt2-pb2-l1g8
(6) If at any time the party which is the largest political party of the largest political designation is not the largest political party—
(a) any nomination to be made at that time under section 16A(4) or 16B(4) shall instead be made by the nominating officer of the largest political party; and
(b) any nomination to be made at that time under section 16A(5) or 16B(5) shall instead be made by the nominating officer of the largest political party of the largest political designation.
Ie the largest single party gets First Minister regardless of the designation.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:21 PMGo on Alliance… :-)
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:32 PMThe DUP will lose seats to TUV first and foremost (potentially up to 6 or so). If, and it’s a big if, Sir Reg makes any gains then that will be do to STV, not support for his ‘party’.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:42 PMIf Sinn Fein did become the largest party in NI after an election, then gaining the right to office of FM would be a meaningless victory, since it is highly unlikely that Peter Robinson would accept the office of DFM in the current acrimonious political environment. Ergo, devolved administration would fail, with Plan B being no more radical than restoration of direct rule from Westminster. The other option is reform of the system of mandatory coalition – something that Peter Robinson is in favour of. Success – with this twist of fate - is failure for Sinn Fein.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:43 PMThe ironic thing is that we know now that the DUP put power before principle so it would be akin to SF cutting off its nose to spite its face - and saving the DUP’s face as well.
Let’s forget about wheather the St Andrew’s Agreement is a new deal or the GFA for slow learners and ask the real question:
Do we need 2 pro-agreement unionist parties? What really divides them apart from personalities?Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:57 PMRobbo makes a statement, Marty signs the book, P and J before 2009, Ireland to beat the All Blacks on Saturday - I’m off to my very good friend Paddy Power for odds on an accumulator.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 01:59 PM<Yawn>
Alternatively, it’s just the kids rolling on the Supermarket floor, screaming and yelling, because they haven’t had enough attention in the last while.
Which is why everyone outside the select circle of “friends” believes this is all sound and fury signifying precisely ... nothing. By the end of the week the tizz will be over.
And, no: this time there’ll be no sweeties at the check-out.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 02:03 PMCompetition time.
Does anyone know how many unionist parties there have been in the last 40 years? Basically any party or political group with the word “unionist” in the name.
I would be impressed if anyone could name them all.Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 02:03 PMDoes anyone still think that Gerry isn’t doing a solo run?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 02:06 PMAll gotta promise not to google mind
1) DUP
2) UUP
3) UKUP
4) PUP
5) United Ulster Unionist Party
6) Vanguard summat Unionist Party
7) Was there a NI Labour Unionist Party?
9) Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea Unionist Party
10) TUVIs that it?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:03 PMAll gotta promise not to google mind
1) DUP
2) UUP
3) UKUP
4) PUP
5) United Ulster Unionist Party
6) Vanguard summat Unionist Party
7) Was there a NI Labour Unionist Party?
9) Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea Unionist Party
10) TUVIs that it?
Posted by Dewi on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:03 PM
NIUP
UUUC
Popular Unionists Party
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:07 PM“9) Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea Unionist Party”
SPLITTERS!!
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:08 PMAll fine and well but what happened to the Raytheon post that was right above this story 45 mins ago?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:19 PMSomebody crapped on it then threw it out the window.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:25 PMPopular Unionist Party - Kilfedder right?
And that UUUC was when they called all the by-elections?
Can’t remember NIUP though.Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:29 PMDewi, observer,
1) DUP
2) UUP
3) UKUP
4) PUP
5) United Ulster Unionist Party
6) Vanguard summat Unionist Party
7) Was there a NI Labour Unionist Party?
9) Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea Unionist Party
10) TUV...
11) NIUP
12) UUUCAnd;
UDP
Independent DUP
UUAP
WRUCI know the word ‘unionist is not in their title, but ‘ulster’ is a good proxy;
UCDP
UIM
UIV
UKIP
Ulster Party
Ulster Third Way
UPRGAnd lets not forget .... The Alliance Party ;-)
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:33 PMYou’ve all forgotten the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (party leader Brian Faulkner).
And lets not forget .... The Alliance Party ;-)
Hey horseman, I hear the BBC are looking for a replacement for Folks on the Hill that’s actually funny, want to apply?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:50 PMHorseman - if u r changing the rules then also Consevative Party….
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 03:58 PMDewi,
if u r changing the rules then also Consevative Party….
That mightn’t actually be a rule-change. Weren’t they (maybe still are?) the ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’?
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:02 PMOr, as you might know it: the Plaid Geidwadol Cymru
;-)
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:03 PMWRUC???
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:04 PMWomen Raising Unionist Concerns (WRUC) formed September 2005 in the aftermath of the Whiterock parade and subsequent rioting. I don’t think they are a party as such, more a ginger group. They’ve disappeared completely, of course, as do 99% of these type of groups within a few months.
The original challenge said ‘parties or political groups’ so I reckoned this one counted.
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:09 PMWeren’t they (maybe still are?) the ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’?
Good point - you get a full mark. (Plaid Geidwadol ac Unoliaethol Cymru in that case!!!)Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:09 PMThank you. Missed the political groups thing in which case yon can add:
Orange Order
Indie Orange Order
That Royal preceptory Black thingie
All the alphabet soup thingies.Driftwood - it’s your fault - needed a better definition when we started !!!
Posted by on Jun 04, 2008 @ 04:14 PM
