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
All Mr Hanna is after is a Stormont pass!!! The only reason he left the DUP was because he didn’t get to run in this Wednesday’s By-Election and thought he had a better chance with the UUP - as if. Why jump on board a sinking ship.
It’s saddening that he has such a high estimation of his self importance - why else would he be contacting the Newsletter months after he left the DUP.
If you ask me it was sour grapes after the Queen’s branch AGM when he didn’t get to read his “new chairman” speech and was ousted by a first year!!
AND was only a reserve to the DUP Executive!!!Watch out Jeffery - Big Ed’s gonna nick your Westminster seat!!!
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 10:39 PMAs someone who actually lives in west belfast and not on the stoops HQ`s south belfast brigade 1st Com, sdlp computer…
firstly SF have did and continue to do on a daily basis, a much better job when it comes to serving and helping those with needs, whatever they be and regardless of who they are, were they are from or what religion they are....
now how do I know this..... I`ve seen their work in action, job creation, more accountable policing on the streets, I`ve talked too those who they`ve helped, seen their workers on the streets in unison with the community, involved in a daily basis in issues that affect the areas inwhich we live....
don`t take my word....read throught any paper to see what they have done and compare this to the non-existent stoops....
But hey don`t even believe that.......
every vote SF gets and the continuing growth of their support is attributable to vote stealing off course....isn`t that the reason why they`ve become the largest Nationalist party!!!!!!
God bless the stoops and all who sail in her.....
now where are all those rats going!!
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 11:01 PMTwinbrook - I would love you to be right but you are wrong.
Back up even one of your examples, job creation. Because this is their biggest let down. SF has presided politically in West Belfast from 83 - now, with the exception of 92 - 97. And throughout that whole time and even now, west Belfast is the most socially and economically deprived constituency in the north.
What jobs have SF created in the west?
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 11:12 PMBrendan - could you please specify as where to exactly you mean by the “north”?
North of where?? North Belfast, North Antrim, North Down OR do you in fact actually mean
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Government of Ireland Act 1920!!
Get your facts straight! ! ! !
Posted by on Feb 09, 2008 @ 11:40 PMTwinbrook;
What has Sinn Fein achieved for us in West Belfast?
It is the most deprived area in the six counties.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 12:15 AMWhoa Ellie, I meant Northern Ireland. Have a glass of milk, relax.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 12:33 AMEllen-
“North of where?? North Belfast, North Antrim, North Down OR do you in fact actually mean
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Government of Ireland Act 1920!!”
As it happens, the Government of Ireland Act was repealed some time ago, but given that this site goes by the subtitle ‘Notes on Northern Ireland politics & culture’, I wouldn’t have thought it would take much brainpower to work out what exactly the term ‘the north’ means when used on threads such as this. One must therefore conclude that you are either lacking in the aformentioned faculty of brainpower or are just plain ignorant.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 02:24 AM“As someone who actually lives in west belfast and not on the stoops HQ`s south belfast brigade 1st Com, sdlp computer…”
Shows what you know… I’m a unionist!
I stick by the assertation that on a day to day basis political parties, no matter how many offices they have, do very little for the actual people.
What percentage of people actually get in touch with the dozens of elected ‘representatives’ across this overgoverned little provence?
Vague statements like that of Twinbrook do not impress me.
But my original point would have to be West Belfast is NI’s most deprived constituency. This is despite almost 20 years of SF rule.
Why then should I believe that an Anderson (SF) gain in Foyle should end the depravity there in the way that she claims it will?
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 02:34 AMWhat has Sinn Fein achieved for us in West Belfast?
It is the most deprived area in the six counties.
Tell me, what power an influence could one MP have, of whatever party. Oh right, zip.
SF have probably done better than can be expected in normal circumstance at wringing out concessions; and in the West Belfast Festival have a genuine achievement. But the problems of West Belfast are neither unique to it, nor are they capable of being easily solved by whole governments, never mind one MP.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 02:37 AM“But the problems of West Belfast are neither unique to it, nor are they capable of being easily solved by whole governments, never mind one MP”
The problems of Foyle are unique to Foyle, nor are they capable of being easily solved by whole governments, never mind one MP
So why would Martina be able to make the difference she so outlandishly claims that she can?
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 02:39 AMAnother potential first for Alliance in celebrating difference?
He may not be alone.
Council elections unlikely to be next year, but personally I am taking nothing for granted.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 04:48 AMI’ve always tended to keep my head down and concentrate on work and staying out of trouble since like most people I had enough troubles in my life without going looking for them. I’ve never backed violent republicanism in any way despite usually living in border-line areas where I have at times been loudmouthed in my support for political alternatives being something of a ‘John Hume’ fanatic in my youth.
All I can give is my own testimony - I’ve never been attacked in any way though mind you I didn’t drink with ‘pub-republicans’ ;-) on the couple of occasions when I’ve gone to SF clinics I’ve received helpful professional advice in a friendy and informal way.
Sinn Fein on their own will get nowhere but with the support of the people are unstoppable. The SDLP have become detached from ordinary people but Sinn Fein can and will help to envigorate the areas in which they are based. I wish them good luck in the North-West where crossborder finance and development are changing everything, as they are elsewhere.
What is the point of a ‘knocking’ post like the one above from Atticus? It merely makes people like me despair for the SDLP which used to be a party of activists and idealists. Now it seems to be anything but and has descended to the level of the old Nationalist Party - a gang of ‘professional Catholics’ content to accept minor reforms and a secondary place in society. Those days have gone forever and they will never come back.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 09:34 AMIf Martina Anderson isn’t a threat to the last wall of the crumbling SDLP empire why is the party running around Derry like headless chickens trying to keep up with her, any gamblers out there get the bets on now when the odds are good
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:18 AMYou running too Sammy?
“Council elections unlikely to be next year, but personally I am taking nothing for granted.”
Why not?
We had them in 2005, 2001, 1997, 1993, 1989, 1985, 1981, 1977, 1973.
Why will next year be the first to skip the four year cycle? RPA?
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:29 AMmy only comment is this.....I base what I write on what I HAVE ACTUALLY WITNESSED.....
Now if the stoops can`t get into their heads that the people of West Belfast have turned their backs on them.....well thats a problem the stoops will have to deal with themselves…Electoral politics, how the stoops must hate the thought now! Nationalists regardless of class voting collectively on issues and action....
The people can`t be wrong, can they MR Stoop?
The people of this area still have the memories of when the stoops when they had a number of modicum of support before the onset of the peace process and what did they achieve in comparison to SF today!
Well the SF record alone will answer that question.
Now as to generalizations.....its sad that the stoops on here, sorry the stoop on here continues to berate, attack and demean the people not only of this area but the north of Ireland as a whole, who have the temerity to turn their back on a party out of touch with reality…
Too be frank....to most, theres a better possiblity of seeing Haley`s comet than an active or even a young sdlp member in any of our areas…
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:30 AMlib2016
Keep TrollingTwinbrook
The road to nowhere. Marxism doesn’t work unless the rest of foot the bill. If things are so bad in West Belfast, why don’t people move?Surely, Gerry Adams must have had some impact or was his attention focused elsewhere?
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 12:06 PMThe Andrew Muir defection is interesting - is Alliance becoming the party for those who are ‘different’ in a still intolerant society, either by not having been born here, or being gay, disabled etc? If so, it doesn’t say much for the other parties but it does point to a secure future and place in the political environment for Alliance. As a foreigner myself, I’m tempted to follow Muir but I can’t agree with their economic policy.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 12:51 PMThe last sentence of my comment above might imply that I’m a member of the SDLP, I’d like to clarify that I’m not.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 01:24 PM“If Martina Anderson isn’t a threat to the last wall of the crumbling SDLP empire why is the party running around Derry like headless chickens trying to keep up with her, any gamblers out there get the bets on now when the odds are good “
I live several miles from Londonderry. I visit regularly and cannot claim to have seem any barnyard animal impressions. Point back to March and see that the swing was from SF to the SDLP - hardly a crumbling empire.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 01:25 PM“What is the point of a ‘knocking’ post like the one above from Atticus?”
To convey my ideas surely, or should people who disagree with SF simply be ‘silenced’.
“It merely makes people like me despair for the SDLP which used to be a party of activists and idealists.”
A comment from a politically non-alligned individual on a website makes you despair for your opponents?
“my only comment is this.....I base what I write on what I HAVE ACTUALLY WITNESSED..... “
I too. When visiting West Belfast I can see it’s in squalor and I’m glad I don’t live there, regardless of how SF would wait on me hand & foot if I did.
Twinbrook then began to lose his temper, accusing me of SDLP membership.
Alls I can say is, do you belive all that crap about Martina Anderson ending L’Derry’s which was first raised by Buggerhed?
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 01:31 PMTwinbrook,
Sinn Fein delivering accountable policing? Don’t make me laugh! More like jumping on the bandwagon years too late when all the work is already done. Jesus.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 02:08 PMWhy not?
Because there is a major review of local government underway which is likely to reduce the number of councils to 15 and delay the elections by a year or two; also, local electoral boundaries are disgracefully out of date and need reviewing.
You running too Sammy?
Far be it from me to take a local selection meeting for granted, but I wasn’t knocking on doors on wet nights in November just because there was nothing on TV…
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 02:30 PMI for one welcome Andrew Muir to the Alliance Party. The SDLP are bound to be sore because Andrew is only the first of many who will leave them over Durkins decission to sell his soul to Fiana Fail.
Muir 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 Truth & Justice on Feb 09, 2008 @ 07:25 PMApart from your usual poor attempt at trolling what do you mean by that? Personal comments from Seamus Close aside, the Alliance Party fully suports Gay Rights and will continue to do so as our mandate for a Shared Society demands.
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 03:38 PMFirstly I haven`t loss my temper.....tut tut...cheap jibe!
Secondly I live in West Belfast and unlike the poster and the majority of stoops, don`t just visit it!Now that qualifies me to comment…
Now to base an assertion of squalor on a visit or two, is not only a stupid generalization but highly offensive to the majority of the people of West Belfast who take pride in their area.Now off course we have deprivation, high unemployment and other numerous social problems...but no party alone would be able to allievate these....
All SF can do is the work with our communities to try and address these....
And this is what they do on a daily basis and this is undeniable…as to accountable policing....the majority of Nationalists who overwhelming vote SF, seem to agree with their policies on the Police…
Now the stoops would want us to forget all the support they gave to the RUC albeit with some reservation but support which flew in the face of the majority of Nationalists, who could not support a political sectarian anti-Catholic force, in league with loyalist death gangs…
Now wheres that band wagon!
Now lest we forget or the stoops try and change the subject.....
Isn`t this thread about further defections in the ever decreasing numbers of the SDLP?
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 04:08 PMWhat difference is there in being devoured by FF or outpolled by SF? Either way the SDLP dissappears. Can any SDLP member tell us what is going on with the party and FF? While I’ve said it before here that the two parties are supposed to be ideologically opposite, even if all the SDLP aim for now is to hurt SF, it’d be a very pyrric victory if they were amalgomated into FF and promptly forgotten about!
Posted by on Feb 10, 2008 @ 04:36 PM
