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Books
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The Earl Bishop
Interesting BBC article on an upcoming presentation and talk [Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, 17 August] by lecturer and broadcaster Stephen Price on the subject of his new book – The Earl Bishop. The 18th Century ”Earl Bishop” was Frederick Augustus Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry. Hervey was also elected [...] read our review »
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“Unionism Decayed 1997-2007″ by David Vance: book review
I initially wrote this when the book was first published three years ago; whilst certain elements of it now sound dated, its basic premise that the period of 1997-2007 was a period of irreversible decay for Northern Irish Unionism can still be argued as a valid opinion. My own feeling is that it did indeed [...] read our review » -
The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday (Neil MacFarquhar)
With perhaps the longest title of any book I’ve read this year, The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East gives an insight into the lives of people living in Middle East through the eyes of journalist Neil MacFarquhar. MacFarquhar’s father was a chemical engineer [...] read our review »
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Comment on The CUs election and Rowan Atkinson
on 20 April 2010 at 5:07 am
Dundonald Voter and Turgon
Not all voters appreciate nastiness.
Robinson’s “are you dense” interview with Seamus McKee really turned me off Robinson. It shows a smallness to him.
Jim Allister is guilty of being too negative at times. However he is not like Robinson when it comes to nastiness of the type in the McKee interview.
Robinson has really blotted his copy book.
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Comment on The CUs election and Rowan Atkinson
on 20 April 2010 at 4:38 am
Turgon
I think you are too negative about the CUs candidates. Many of them are new faces with a lot of promise. There is not the old grey haired male problem that the UUP used to suffer. Rather they reflect a changing politics.
I think some of your assersions above carry bias, particularly those in the second last paragrah.
I believe you are wrong on Lady Hermon, there was no way she was ever going to sign up to the CU agenda so it was right to run someone else.
Regarding Reg himself, I think he can certainly be criticised for not going for the kill – he does not have the ruthless streak that could have taken advantage of the DUP.
If anything the UUP need to be stepping up the attacks on the DUP in their vulnerable areas in particular the stories about links with developers, their poor record at Westminster, their populist “jam today jam tomorrow” economics.
But the CUs are spelling out their message of being a party that can form a UK government and I think that is a good message.
The election is something of an experiment for the CUs – they have new clear message and a fresh and promising set of candidates. Its something different for unionism and I applaud Reg for offering the electorate that.
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Comment on Robinson back on the attack with the media…
on 20 April 2010 at 2:16 am
The DUP are weakened by all this talk of developers.
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Comment on Unionist politics vanishing at Queens…
on 18 April 2010 at 11:10 pm
FJH I work at a top university. I have to take flights and Skype all the time in a world where research collaboration takes place with people all across Europe. Yes QUB is a bit peripheral in European terms but not much moreso than places like Edinburgh or Manchester that are making a fist of it. QUB could do better. I’ve talked to some academics who worked there and they comment on this insularity.
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Comment on Unionist politics vanishing at Queens…
on 18 April 2010 at 10:54 pm
“The predicament QUB academics find themselves in now is that research is prioritised over teaching so that the VC can get himself up that league table he keeps spouting about,”
Ulick this has been the case at most universities in the UK since the 1980s. I also teach at a top UK university and we do make sure to do a good job of teaching – with the highest standards – but really research is how you get your promotion and become a professor. I think QUB can attract good staff and students (especially graduate students) and the VC is right that the league table will help in that regard.
QUB still seems a bit too insular compared to places like for example Manchester or Glasgow where one might compare it to. International links and research collaborations are important. Its important to comare internationally not just be content to be top dog in NI.
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Comment on Some thoughts on North Antrim
on 18 April 2010 at 8:53 pm
The Brethren were always for Paisley.
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Comment on The Coalition scenario is emerging
on 18 April 2010 at 5:24 pm
Basically, if we assume unionists transfer to each other before a nationalist party, then with AV the SDLP have to become bigger than the sum of the unionist parties to get elected, but don’t have to be the main nationalist party. So say the two unionists are at jointly 30% as in West Tyrone. Then if SDLP are on 31% and SF on 39% the SDLP get in (but not if SDLP are 29% and SDLP 41%). So it lowers the bar for the SDLP in those sort of situations because the two unionists get knocked out first.
However.
AV might also facilitate tactical voting of the following sort – a uninoist votes for their preferred unionist first and the SDLP second (bypassing uninoist parties in their transfers). Thus registering their tribe but also getting SF out. In this case then the bar for the SDLP is lowered further.
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Comment on Are the Tories as rattled as they seem?
on 18 April 2010 at 5:01 pm
“Westminster is every bit as posh as Brown.”
I meant Eton, sorry!
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Comment on Are the Tories as rattled as they seem?
on 18 April 2010 at 4:50 pm
“Clegg is not incumbered with Tory party baggage and Cameron did not look anything special when up against some one with the benefit of similiar education and public presentation.”
Westminster is every bit as posh as Brown.
I like all three men.
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Comment on The Coalition scenario is emerging
on 18 April 2010 at 4:47 pm
Yes AV is a little wierd as a system. It isn’t very proportional because it depends on which parties are eliminated and not eliminated at the stage the 50% mark is reached.
Its effects in NI I am still thinking about but I think…
In places like Derry it would entrench SDLP because of Unionist transfers, because the uninoist parties are small enough to get knocked out first.
As Lottanonsense says the reverse effect operates in the many unionist constituencies where there are relatively few nationalists.
But in the constituencies where uninoists are about 30% or 40% then the SDLP gets knocked out first and SF win.
Assuming people largely vote within the tribe.
There might be some greater incentive (than either STV with multi-member) to appeal to the more moderate people in the centre at least because you need 50% transferring to you.
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