Saturday, February 09, 2008
Two defections and one selection…
THE deputy chairman of the DUP’s youth association, Edward Hanna (25), has announced he will be joining the Ulster Unionists. The ex-DUP executive member claimed: “The centre of DUP politics has moved from its community base and people have taken to being very arrogant and not entirely out of touch but certainly politics driven by the people. The DUP completely ripped up their manifestos after the elections. There was no consultation with the people, there was no consultation anywhere.” The DUP responded: “In this case it would be best described as sour grapes. It is up to Mr Hanna if he wishes to use arrogance and rumours as an excuse and cover.” More unusually, the former chairman of the SDLP’s Bangor branch, Andrew Muir (pictured), is joining the Alliance Party. And in the Foyle constituency, Sinn Fein has selected Martina Anderson to take Mark Durkan on in the next general election.
Muir told the Belfast Telegraph his decision was in no way a criticism of leader Mark Durkan.
But he argued that with the SDLP on course to merge with Fianna Fail this year, the time was right to realign himself with a party “in tune with the real issues facing Northern Ireland today”.
“The politics of Northern Ireland are now fundamentally different than in 1998, when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, never mind 1970 when the SDLP was formed,” he said.
“As a passionate supporter of the Good Friday Agreement, the Alliance Party provides me with a natural centrist home in the post-nationalist era we now live.
“The threat of terrorism and environmental catastrophe now means that the need for European unity outweighs desires for old fashioned Irish unity.
But an SDLP spokesman claimed Mr Muir’s departure was motivated by personal ambition.
Belfast Gonzo @ 02:26 PM
I don’t want to be any more than averagely crude, but it this is the Stoops’ sole Prod lost and gone forever then?
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 03:14 PMThis would be the same Edward Hanna who wanted a job with the DUP, didnt get one and then suddenly became unhappy and moved when he got one elsewhere would it?
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 03:18 PMMartina said ““Derry may be the North’s second city but it has become the capital of disadvantage and deprivation and this needs to be changed that is why Derry needs new leadership because for too long the present political status quo has not defended the rights of the people of Derry to be treated as equals, as first class citizens. It is obvious that this change is needed for Derry to be able to compete on a level basis and I am determined to take that message to every single Minister so that our demands for more investment in health, housing, jobs, education, infrastructure and tourism are heard. This can only be done with the sup
port of the people and I know that the people of Derry embrace change and can continue to be the catalyst of political change to deliver that New Ireland,””Apparently Sinn Fein are going to turn Derry into a land of milk & honey, presumably the same way they did for West Belfast when they won that from the SDLP.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 04:17 PMTo credit of SF, they live in West Belfast have workers in party offices all over west Belfast and are involved in all the community activities in our area…
Unlike the sdlp.....
we`ve seen Lord Lucan riding Shergar more often than a sdlp memeber....
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 05:07 PMEDDIE HANNA? i;m more a somebody in the DUP than he is.
Oh, and i’m a member of Ogra Shinn Fein.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 05:09 PMThe choice of Ms Anderson was pretty obvious as her profile has been being continuously raised for some time. How high are her chances of taking Foyle?
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 05:47 PMI would like to wish Andrew Muir all the best with the Alliance party. I have read his comments on here from time to time, and his website, and I think he is a sound person and an asset to whichever party he is in. His politics seem quite liberal and Alliance seems a natural home.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 05:56 PMMartina Anderson? I am surprised that SF have given up on Foyle so easily. She is not even a credible MLA never mind westminster candidate.
Twinbrook - living in the area an’ all sounds great. But what has the SF movement actually achieved for west Belfast? Sweet FA.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 06:17 PMIt does beg the question - why do parties (and not just SF) get people voted in as MLAs only to try and build a profile for Westminster? Half of our Executive is only there for ‘profile-building’ for other elections rather than on merit, in my opinion.
Aside from the inevitable double-jobbing if an MLA does win a Westminster seat - something that clearly pisses the public off - it’s hard to see why a republican party like SF views Westminster as more important than Stormont.
Still don’t rate Anderson’s chances anyway.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 06:53 PMMuir leaves the sdlp? has anyone heard about him before? Why is this news?
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 06:53 PMsomething that clearly pisses the public off
Does it ? It is, after all, the public who vote the double-jobbing candidates in.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 06:57 PM“But what has the SF movement actually achieved for west Belfast? Sweet FA.”
It’s what I was hinting at.
And all that crap : “SF, they live in West Belfast have workers in party offices all over west Belfast”
Party offices are infrequently visited by most, and current news suggest they’re just a method of providing “jobs for the boys”.
A nice little party political advertisement, funded by the taxpayer, is how I would sum one up
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:07 PMI belive poor mr hanna was diddled out of the chairmanship (if that is a word) of the current Young DUP by certain disreputable individuals in the organisation
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:23 PM“More unusually, the former chairman of the SDLP’s Bangor branch, Andrew Muir (pictured), is joining the Alliance Party.”
Why unusual - the SDLP is about as relevant in North Down as a sandpit in the desert. Anybody, with any common sense and intelligence would have left the sinking ship long ago and joined up with the more centrist Alliance, who actually achieve much for their voters, and also offer a progressive alternative to the backwoodsmen from the Unionist camps.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:24 PMwell if SF offices are anything like McGuinness in cookstown, theres not much work going on, his is only open 2 or 3 times a month and thats not him, and that was before he was DFM.
i dont Anderson will take Foyle, and to be honest if SF were interested in taking Foyle why did they not run Guinness last time, or even at the next election. answer, they know they will not win it! or that will would lose mid-ulster!
Durkan, with the work he does in Foyle will win it again, his only problem is to try an d increase his vote, or stopping it sliding.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:26 PMThe defection of Eddie Hanna is a big cue not only for Basil McCrea in Lagan Valley but for the Ulster Unionist Party as a whole...he is gonna bring so many votes with him back to the UUP.
I bet Jeffery Donaldson and Paul Stewart (the capable by-election candidate) are shaking in their wee boots ... watch this space!
After all Eddie left the UUP in Lagan Valley several years ago before Jeffery ... who followed.
Hanna for Westminster 2009!
New face, New Thinking.
After all Eddie only moved in the Lagan Valley communities best interests ... if it matters to you and all that!
Talk about a 9 incher!
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:31 PMSDLP are hardly a sinking ship in north down, if they are a sinking ship, then SF are alrady sunk and growing seaweed
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:32 PMThe Party is in crisis ... Leader Dr Paisley has called an urgent breakfast meeting for Monday morning. The officer team are asking questions about:
1. Why Eddie Hanna was not offered a job (despite a stunning CV)?
2. How they can continue as a Party without the valuable contribution of this once loyal St. Andrew’s Agreement Lagan Valley member.
“But an SDLP spokesman claimed Mr Muir’s departure was motivated by personal ambition.”
Two people with the same idea.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 08:23 PMMuir is a indeed liberal and is a champion of gay rights he may well bring alot of baggage to the Alliance Party much of it they may end up not wanting in the long term.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 08:25 PMCouncil elections next year.
Does NI have another openly gay councillor?
Another potential first for Alliance in celebrating difference?
Googling for Gay, Councillor and Northern Ireland all I could find was an FG councillor in Cork and this guy;
“DUP councillor Maurice Mills of Ballymena, Northern Ireland claimed that Hurricane Katrina was a judgement from God: “the media failed to report that the hurricane occurred just two days prior to the annual homosexual event called the Southern Decadence Festival, which the previous year had attracted an estimated 125,000 people.”
Nice distinctive difference in party positions there.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 09:25 PM“DUP councillor Maurice Mills of Ballymena, Northern Ireland claimed that Hurricane Katrina was a judgement from God: “the media failed to report that the hurricane occurred just two days prior to the annual homosexual event called the Southern Decadence Festival, which the previous year had attracted an estimated 125,000 people.”
Nice distinctive difference in party positions there.
Posted by happy lundy on Feb 09, 2008 @ 08:25 PM
As a ballymena man i mind this statement well. How absurd to actually say this let alone believe it. Mind you, his fellow DUP councillor, Davy Tweed, had to ask why Michael McIlveen was wearing a celtic top when he was kicked to death, like this was the important question. Unfortunatley down here though these statements are not always raised as disgraceful. That is good old Ballymena for you though.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 09:44 PMEdward Hanna will not have to sign a gagging order either! He is a welcome face in the UUP.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 09:45 PMTo be fair, neither of the parties have lost MLAs. Only one has lost one of those.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 10:13 PMAnd they are welcome to him Butterknife. He has gone home where he will find people with a similar view to political life.
He can sure knife people.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 10:14 PMLooking at Foyle next time, would a city on the way up really ditch a half-decent, safe-pair-of-hands for a noisy blonde bomber, I mean, bombshell?
As for Muir, he always comes across extremely well on the media, etc, so I wouldn’t take much notice of Fibs and Prejudice thoughts’ on him.
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 10:25 PM
