Slugger O&#039;Toole

Tue 31 January 2012, 3:39pm

At the Guardian’s Politics Blog, Michael White has some fun with reports that Nicolas Sarkozy has enlisted Frau Bundeskanzlerin in his French presidential re-election campaign. Although this post’s title quote, from the Wall Street Journal blogs, suggests he may already be having second thoughts… ANYhoo… From Michael White’s post We can assume that pollsters have advised [...] more »

“This further signifies the positive effect the City of Culture title is generating in the region…”

Mon 23 January 2012, 10:53pm

Whilst Comhaltas dither, and differ, over whether to hold their All-Ireland Fleadh in Londonderry during the UK City of Culture year in 2013, the UK’s Big Lottery Fund Chair, Peter Ainsworth, was in the city today to announce a £1million small grants programme to “support communities across Northern Ireland that want to play a part in [...] more »

Next steps towards a Scottish referendum

Sun 15 January 2012, 2:47pm

Make of the Sunday Telegraph ICM poll what you will. 43% of English voters approve of Scottish independence at this particular moment, but only ( only!) 40% of Scots. Of the three potential questions 26% of Scots voters prefer independence, 26% more tax and spending powers and 37% the status quo. How did we get [...] more »

The Scottish independence debate: the complexities start to emerge

Sat 14 January 2012, 10:41am

Professor John Curtice explains the complexities surrounding the referendum questions on the Today programme. Assume two ballot papers, one on devo max, the other on independence. If you look at some opinion polls, as many as 75% -80% might vote for devo max. Let’s say fewer, say, 51% vote for independence. Which would win? The Nats [...] more »

Unionist forces begin to muster

Thu 12 January 2012, 10:12am

So it’s game on for the early rounds of the referendum campaign. The Westminster government says Alex Salmond can have a binding referendum provided he sticks to a Yes, No question on independence. No fudging over devo max. The UK parties are uniting to save the Union, although the others would like Cameron and the Tories [...] more »

A constitutional crisis over a Scottish referendum?

Wed 11 January 2012, 10:08am

Just how serious is the new stand-off between Westminster and Holyrood over a referendum on Scottish independence? I take the view that it’s largely shadow boxing. The two governments will do a deal in the end, even though there’s quite a way to go before it’s clinched. Many believe Cameron boobed badly yesterday by trying [...] more »

Only a fool would call the Scottish independence referendum at this distance

Gerry Lynch,

Tue 10 January 2012, 8:02am

“Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled – Scots, wham Bruce has aften led – Welcome to your gory bed. Or to victorie!” Punditry is not an art that suits the modest. Anyone asking people to take time and trouble to read their writing, let alone expecting them to pay for the privilege, is usually best [...] more »

David Cameron has transformed the SNP’s long game of Scottish independence into a penalty shootout

Mon 9 January 2012, 6:49pm

David Cameron has hugely raised the stakes over Scottish independence by planning to give the Scottish Parliament legal powers to hold a binding referendum, provided it takes place within a tighter time frame than that envisaged by the SNP government. See the chess analysis by the doyen of Scots commentators Magnus Linklater [...] more »

“Very well, alone?”

Thu 22 December 2011, 11:39am

Interesting to see how the future of the Union is gradually being linked to the future of the European Union and the UK’s relations with it. In a farewell interview in the Daily Telegraph, the retiring Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell places it high among the “enormous challenges.” Over the next few years, there will be [...] more »

Does Tory eurosceptics’ nationalism boost UK breakup chances?

Tue 13 December 2011, 10:16am

The Financial Times (£) is alone today among UK national papers in spotting how the English nationalism of extreme Tory eurosceptics feeds Scottish separatism, in spite of all the fears for small nations’ survival in the gales of the eurozone crisis. First, the news story Alex Salmond, first minister and leader of the Scottish National [...] more »

“Splendid News!”, says the King.

Tue 6 December 2011, 9:03pm

As the Irish Times reports The original Anglo Irish Treaty document of 1921 has been made available to the public for the first time today in an online exhibition marking 90 years to the day since its signing. The Treaty was signed in the aftermath of the truce which ended the 1919-1921 War of Independence. [...] more »

Unionism silent on Scotland and the ‘Devo Max’ question?

Thu 10 November 2011, 11:20am

A friend pointed out to me in Belfast yesterday that whilst Sinn Fein has its outreach project to the south to keep it’s support engaged and happy, Unionism seems to be making very little contribution to the devolution max versus independence debate in Scotland, and more recently, London. The Scots themselves have been out looking [...] more »

Is the SDLP now ready to take a bet on its own future?

Sun 6 November 2011, 9:27am

Given some of the product of the SDLP leadership contest (most notable perhaps in Patsy McGlone’s contribution) seems to be about shifting the engagement process (rather than defining new policy), this speech by Micheal Martin to Fianna Fail’s Youth Conference in Cork this afternoon is worth noting, since it tricks out something of that party’s [...] more »

Conall McDevitt answers your questions on the SDLP leadership…

Fri 4 November 2011, 3:42pm

And now we have the second, in what I hope will be a series of four ‘interviews’ based on Questions provided by the Slugger readership (you can see the original thread here): 1) What would you do during your first 30 days as leader to start rebuilding the SDLP? (Original question from ‘Sean Og’) If [...] more »

Sarkozy: “We will fight to defend Europe and the euro”

Fri 4 November 2011, 3:23pm

With apologies to Moochin, here’s the real POTD [of the week? - Ed] when the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, had his card marked at Cannes by Frau Bundeskanzlerin. Via Daniel Hannan at the Telegraph blog. Italy have called in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but no money has changed hands, according to Berlusconi… Answering questions at a [...] more »

On the SDLP: “We were a group of individuals who belong to a broad church…”

Fri 4 November 2011, 1:18pm

Pretty good discussion on Hearts and Minds last night (as so often, a politician free zone, the exception of Martin who’s firmly in the Fianna Fail camp these days, is its own reward) of the strengths and weaknesses of the SDLP… Organisation seems to be a critical issue, although Fionnuala O’Connor note that what the [...] more »

Patsy McGlone answers your questions on the SDLP leadership…

Fri 4 November 2011, 1:10pm

And the first one of SDLP leadership contest, is Patsy McGlone. 1) What would you do during your first 30 days as leader to start rebuilding the SDLP? (Original question from ‘Sean Og’) My plan to reform, rebuild and restore the SDLP to the centre of Irish politics relies on strengthening party unity. Among the [...] more »

“Are the Scots more the Greeks or Germans? I couldn’t possibly say.”

Mon 24 October 2011, 1:18pm

“It’s starting”, is it? [Whatever 'it' is - Ed]. The Guardian’s Michael White spots a flaw in Alex Salmond’s cunning plan. [Does it involve turnips? - Ed] Neeps. From the Guardian Politics Blog The SNP and the Tory Eurosceptics have much in common – and I don’t mean that as a compliment, decent people though [...] more »

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