Ian Parsley, one of those being touted as an Up and Coming politician in the current nominations (which are still open by the way) for the Slugger Awards, is reported today as joining the Ulster Unionists, something the man himself appears to be denying on his blog this morning… It’s thought the speculation was stirred when it was revealed that the think tank he’s joining an outreach of Ian Duncan Smith’s Centre for Social Justice, which is opening in Belfast next Wednesday… For now, Mr Parsley (IJP, to you and me) remains an Alliance councillor for Holywood…
UPdate: BBC has an email which suggests he’s ready to go… Expect a statement at 3pm… Stephen Walker:
“I have certainly seen an email that was addressed to him and talked in such terms as though he was a would-be candidate. It talked about a timeframe so if he comes out and says he’s not going to join the party he’s certainly had discussions with them and he has certainly been down that road.”
There is a story on page 15 in one of todays newspapers which contains significant inaccuracies, including with regard to conjecture about my political future.
I will be speaking at the NI launch of the independent thinktank referred to at the Richview Regeneration Centre (339 Donegall Road) at 11am on Wednesday, 16 September. This is a very exciting project which will, I trust, be of significant benefit to the promotion of a Shared Future for the entire community. Media will be welcome.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty