Post Archives for Lee Reynolds
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Unionist cause in Scotland should fight from a position of strength
Grasping defeat? The Unionist cause in Scotland fighting an independence referendum campaign should be doing so from a position of inherent strength. Support for the Union has consistently outpolled support for independence. In more recent years any spikes in the support for independence have been just that, unsustained for any significant period of time. Also [...] more »
Debate within Unionism: Thorough, Intense and Constructive
This is a cross posting of Fair Deal's contribution to Open Unionism's ongoing debate on the future of unionism. He argues that all parties to the debate must resist the temptation to the shape of the solution in their own preferred image, but rather they must allow the debate be 'thorough, intense and constructive'. more »
The DUP knocked to the canvas
A massive right hook was delivered by the TUV squarely on the DUP’s chin. It put the DUP on the electoral canvas so as it gets to its feet to receive its 8 count by the referee what should be going through its mind? NOTE: The following is written with hindsight at full value. Even [...] more »
Euro 09 and the DUP – Part 2
The ‘Who’ question for the DUP and the European Election has been answered with Diane Dodds selected as the European Election candidate but what should the party’s message be? (H/T to those who reviewed earlier drafts/parts of this article.) Part 2 continues the examination of the main candidates and how the DUP message should be [...] more »
Euro 09 and the DUP – Part 1
The ‘Who’ question for the DUP and the European Election has been answered with Diane Dodds selected as the European Election candidate but what should the party’s message be? (H/T to those who reviewed earlier drafts/parts of this article.) Part 1 examines the broader battle and begins with an examination of the main candidates.The Unionism [...] more »
Results to suit every position
According to Policing Board research confidence in the PSNI has never been higher. “Eighty six per cent of respondents have some, a lot or total confidence in the PSNI’s ability to provide a day-to-day policing service for everyone in Northern Ireland,” According to the ICR, confidence in the policing in working class loyalist communities is [...] more »
The new ‘decommissioning’?
Over on Our Kingdom I argue that the devolution of policing and justice in the St Andrew’s Agreement has become the equivalent of decommissioning in the Belfast Agreement with the roles of Unionism and Republicanism reversed and that the recent deal faces two tests in 2009; the reaction of republicans if it does not happen [...] more »
A Road to Croydon conversion
A Conservative Party councillor, Maria Gatland (nee McGuire) has resigned as the Croydon Council Education Cabinet member after her past involvement in the PIRA was revealed. She detailed her involvement in a 1973 kiss and tell book about the PIRA called “To Take Arms: My Year with the IRA Provisional”. (Hat tip Guido Fawkes). more »
Freeze the district rate?
The one tax in the ‘control’ of local parties is rates. The DUP has put strong emphasis on the significance of freezing the regional rate and all parties have worked to hold back water charges. However, there is the matter of the district rate. At the moment discussions are beginning within councils about next year’s [...] more »
Tory UUP reflections
The sole UUP MP Sylvia Hermon is taking time to reflect on the new pact (in the present circumstances this is a topic that can afford to wait). Meanwhile UU columnists are divided with Alex Kane a fan and Roy Garland displeased (although Chekov argues his displeasure is incoherent). Ignited wants a calmer approach all [...] more »
False political gods?
A reply to Turgon on who won last week?I personally doubt the value of anyone seeking to make a victory lap even when they have achieved something broadly positive. It is better to be focused, consistent and precise rather singing from the rooftops. There is a temptation to try and build Unionist confidence in the [...] more »
UUP Exec to meet
With some last minute details to be ironed out, UUP sources are describing new UUP/Tory ‘partnership’ arrangements as 95% done and expect it to be put to a vote tonight. The two parties will remain separate entities but as rumoured/leaked a joint nominating committee for European and Westminster elections will be established. It will work [...] more »
One source
Some detail on policing and justice proposals (single source): Justice minister by cross-community vote with a sunset clause May 2012 (by my reckoning this potentially covers the present and next term of the assembly). It will then be part of the general review of all the assembly’s systems (which includes D’hondt). Extract from letter below. [...] more »
The good and the bad news
Last week £180m was confirmed for health infrastructure in the Greater Belfast area by Michael McGimpsey with the pledge that: “I will invest funds where improved health and social care services are most needed,” This morning there was a protest at Stormont after the minister confirmed that a new maternity hospital will not be built [...] more »
A political lesson of the Troubles
Brian Feeney takes the dissident republican paramilitaries to task and argues that they should heed the lesson from the Troubles: “One axiom which the Provisional IRA did manage to demonstrate over all these years was that northern nationalists like republican politics but they don’t like republican violence.” more »
Unionists turn
Last week CD found issues with the Grand Lodge’s choice of language in its statement about GAA halls. This week Arlene Foster was angered by Margaret Ritchie’s attack on the media for treating attacks on GAA and Orange Halls as equivalents, treatment she described as “deeply concerning”. more »
Executive to meet on Thursday?
More Here. more »
Something afoot?
The attendance of the First and Deputy First Minister at the Assembly Review Committee seems to be gaining in significance with rumours that some progress has been made with an Executive meeting looking increasingly likely. more »
Fans banned for poppy protest claims
Celtic supporters opposed to the club’s endorsement of the poppy appeal claim the club has banned some of them from Parkhead. Three republican groups TAL Fanzine, the Green Brigade and Cairde na Eireann encouraged fans to walk out in protest at the decision to have players wear poppies and have a minute’s applause in memory [...] more »
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Books
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Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
Somehow I escaped reading this essential school text, with its story of racism in 1930s American South. Living in Northern Ireland, I draw parallels with sectarianism, with its similar bigotry and prejudice. To Kill a Mockingbird was part of a Unite Against Hate campaign event at Parliament Buildings in Northern Ireland, which I’ve written [...] read our review »
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Children of the Revolution (Bill Rolston)
What was life like for children of political activists during the Troubles? A new book by Bill Rolston and published by Guildhall Press during the summer has collected together the stories of twenty Children of the Revolution whose parents’ activities – and in many cases, imprisonment – had a significant affect on childhoods and life [...] read our review »
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The lost art of reading (or drowning in too much information)…
Here’s a great review of a fascinating book (H/T reader Rory) on how the Internet is destroying our capacity for intelligent, focused and critical thought. It opens thus: …here is the news that Ulin brings in this slim, meandering book: that reading is “an act of contemplation”; that such an act becomes more difficult in [...] read our review »
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