Monday, August 04, 2008
The Slugger Awards 2008 – up-and-coming politician of the year
For this part of the awards, we’re looking to identify the newcomers to public life in Northern Ireland. The quality of politics is partly determined by the personal qualities of its key players, and the changes that will take place in local government over the next few years could have a huge impact on the future of Northern Ireland’s politics.
At the moment, we have 26 councils and 582 councillors in Northern Ireland. By 2011, there will be only eleven councils, and while the exact number of councillors hasn’t yet been finalised, it is expected to be roughly two-thirds of the current figure. The District Electoral Areas (DEA - the subdivisions of those new councils) will not be finalised for at least another year yet, and the electoral system is yet to be formally agreed, but it would be surprising to all concerned if the current Single Transferable Vote (STV) system doesn’t survive the changes.
In addition, there is the question of the ‘Dual Mandate’ – where the same carbon-based life-forms holds more than one of the key elected positions – Councillor, MLA, MP or MEP. Again, this is in the hands of the assembly, but the odds on dual mandates continuing to be permissible look longer by the day.
So, in short, by 2011, it looks like a lot of our councillors will no longer be in office. Some of the new intake will be first-time councillors, so the survival figures are cut further. It looks like outgoing councillors will receive some sort of pay-off, so there is no incentive for timeservers to continue. The kind of qualities that helped get people selected by the parties over the past few decades will also no longer be valued in every case, (particularly by the voters under STV) so this will have a further impact.
Last week, we featured North Down Councillor Roberta Dunlop saying:
“Northern Ireland is crying out for bright young politicians with new ideas and fresh thinking. Yet, how would they ever get a foot on the political ladder when every run of that ladder is occupied by greedy politicians with dual and even triple mandates?”
How indeed? But who are these bright young politicians? And let’s not be ageist about this either – let’s strike ‘young’ from Cllr Dunlop’s quote. Who are the new faces – of any age – that will be shaping politics in Northern Ireland? And let’s not restrict it to local government either. Are there any wanabee MLAs out there that have created an impression? New MLAs who are making a splash?
Again, just a reminder. The Slugger Awards are about promoting a better quality of politics in Northern Ireland. It’s not a forum to continue long-held grudges or a general cynicism about politics. Sluggers’ normal light-touch moderation policy will be tightened up on this one, so please try to keep it positive.
Mick Fealty @ 03:03 PM
ok My vote is for Mr O’Dowd of SF for “up-and-coming politician of the year”,
that’s based on his performances in Stormont debates and on TV debates.
Is this how it works Mick?Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 04:36 PMCharlene O’Hara, Sinn Féin. Very young, hard working councillor in Lisburn.
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 04:44 PMThat will do nicely percy. I’m planning a blog on the judging process later on this evening or tomorrow morning.
In short, I’m be emphasising the importance of qualitative contributions to the category threads here on Slugger, than to numbers in favour.
So if you choose someone, give your remarks some thought so that the judging panel will have something tangible to get hold of when they come to make a short list!
That said, we have two SF candidates. There have to other worthies in other parties, surely?
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 05:20 PMmick
I don’t live in Norn Iron anymore so this is interesting. However the one other group that sets the political agenda is the media commentators. Are there any new “bright young things” in that arena. Are there any really good investigative journalists in the mold of ed maloney or peter taylor
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 07:25 PMMy List of Top Performers in past year
Simon Hamilton for the DUP- a talent no doubt and scoop for that party.
Basil McCrea for the UUP- yes, bit of a waffler, but I gotta admire the self-confidence and desire to get in on every story going.
Daithi McKay for Sinn Fein- in from the off over the Paisley Jnr story and an articulate spokesperson and good local representative.
Naomi Long for Alliance- could talk legs off stools but haven’t met anybody who doesn’t have a good word for her.
I know I haven’t stuck to the up and coming list, but Hamilton could probably still qualify under that title; Charlene O’Hara is a good local representative for Colin area- and a student teacher no less!
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 08:13 PMWe note that the SDLP are conspicuous from their absence in Chris’s list. Margaret Ritchie?
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 08:25 PMCllr Cadogan Enright of the Green Party. He was co-opted onto Down District Council in December 2007 and has played a blinder locally ever since!
He is more active than any other local councillor in Down District and is building up a whole load of other ‘Green candidates’ around him who will most likely be contesting the next locals by his side.
he also created a good wee website to show his supporters and constituents the work he has done. http://www.downgreens.com/ you can see the press cuttings category there to see how popular he is with the local press.
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 08:31 PMMick
Or, if you think Ms Ritchie too established, then how about, Belfast’s freshest new councillor one Mr Niall Kelly aka the Belfast Stoop. He’s a blogging councillor:
Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 09:05 PMMargaret Ritchie for honesty. Basil McCrea for being upfront, David Ford for recognising the folly of it all.
Is Newton Emerson allowed to be included?Posted by on Aug 04, 2008 @ 10:29 PMJohn McCallister
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 09:03 AMCaitriona Ruane
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 11:54 AMnever heard of any of those Councillor’s mentioned above….
but is “hearing” about them the key point????
what about “hard working” surely that is the most important requirement - how is it gauged though?
electorally, word of mouth???
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 12:14 PMshouldn’t be a ’ in councillors - sorry
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 12:15 PMSinn Fein’s east belfast Rep Niall O’Donnghaile.
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 02:33 PMI will stick my oar in and name a couple:
Cllr William Humphrey - Shankill DUP Cllr who has built up a good constituency base along side his colleague Diane Dodds. Done alot to promote himself to ensure he doesn’t get 880 votes to his colleague Diane Dodds’ 4350 votes at the next council election. Tireless work of the two cllr’s should ensure two more council seats in the ward for the DUP.
Michell McIlveen MLA - Someone who has performed better, in my view, than Simon Hamilton MLA on the basis that she is already seen as a consistent performer and a safe pair of hands. The fact that she has been promoted as the new party secretary in place of Nigel Dodds is proof of that.
Cllr Carol Black - For succeeding despite pulling the UUP vote further down in Dromore.
Cllr Niall Kelly - Just for the fact that he is the most hip cllr out there. Get him and his blog!
Edwin Poots MLA - New Minister, does that count? For his shameless promotion of lost causes and down right ignorance he displayed to SF in his last question time. Very funny.
John McCallister MLA - A country farmer as an MLA, enough said I could listen to that man all day long!
Cllr Roy Gillespie - For shameless flag waving
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 03:55 PMThanks BP!
Guys,
The nominations should come with reasons and a bit of background. Numbers won’t help win the award, but qualitative reasons might.
CL:
From the post above:
“Again, just a reminder. The Slugger Awards are about promoting a better quality of politics in Northern Ireland. It’s not a forum to continue long-held grudges or a general cynicism about politics. Sluggers’ normal light-touch moderation policy will be tightened up on this one, so please try to keep it positive.”
In short, this particular comment zone is not freely available for discussion. It is for nominations. Which is why both your comments were clipped.
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 04:14 PMBernice Swift for sticking to her principles, refusing to be silenced or sidelined and continuing to represent her electorate as an independent.
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 04:28 PMHas to be Michael Shilliday, his insightful articles and free-spirited refusal to blindly toe a party line in his posting are an inspiration to us all…..
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 04:42 PMDeirdre Nelson new(ish) councillor in Ballymena. Bright,apparently hard-working and capable potential MLA material. Ran 2007 Assembly elections and did ok for a first timer in a difficult situation given “magnificent 7” in Ballymena. One to watch.
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 05:02 PMDeirdre self praise is no praise : )
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 06:20 PMmoderator, I am at a loss as to why my nomination from last night was removed?
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 06:50 PMBasil McCrea - can talk without notes that must put him straight in the top 10%. Plus unlike wee Jeff he’s happy walking around his constituency without a shadow packing heat (one of the most pathetic things I’ve ever seen in a count centre).
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 08:26 PMIn all seriousness, I think Simon Hamilton deserves the award closely followed by Basil McCrea, the next leader of the Official Unionists.
Posted by on Aug 05, 2008 @ 09:25 PMI see Vincent Parker is Sinn Féin’s new rep in Balmoral.
He’ll make an excellent candidate for them at the next council election!
Posted by on Aug 06, 2008 @ 04:24 PMMy votes/nominations would go to
John McCallister would get the nod as a newish politicians who you can actually listen to.
But then Naomi Long has made big strides this year completely out playing her ‘leader’ but she isnt exactly new.
However my first choice would be Dawn Purvis - as within a year and a bit she has had to try and fill David Ervine’s shoes and then within a month of that win an election and then function within an assembly with no help or allies.
Posted by on Aug 06, 2008 @ 11:24 PM
