TUV councillor apologizes for comparing police officers to the Gestapo

According to the BBC, a statement recently released by the TUV includes the following passage. “Considering some of the extreme comments made in the past about the police by DUP leadership figures, we take no lectures from the DUP, but commend Alderman Calvert for acknowledging that his remarks were inappropriate.” More than a few people must be wondering what you have to do to be expelled from the TUV. Let me try to paraphrase the passage which I’ve cited. “Other …

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Eddie McGrady to stand down

The BBC have just announced that Eddie McGrady has announced that he is not going to stand in South Down at the Westminster election. The speculation is that the new SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie will stand; Sinn Fein have already selected Catriona Ruane. TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.

“Our society has a tragic history of violence.”

Mark asked “Why?” Kieran Doherty, aged 31, was reportedly bound, stripped and shot on the outskirts of Londonderry on Wednesday. Because they can would seem to be the simple answer. After all, that’s all the reasoning others previously required. And they can all still, apparently, “look back on their IRA involvement with pride.” The BBC has some additional background In November 2009 Mr Doherty gave an interview to the Derry Journal newspaper in which he claimed he had been approached …

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Why?

Those responsible for the murder (did they think it an execution or justice?) of Ciaran Doherty have yet to account for themselves and their reasoning for permanently removing this man from his child, family and life. While speculation is ongoing in many places the only thing we know for sure is his death, the grief of his family and now speculation on ‘reasons’. Blank

Dr. Paisley interview in News Letter tomorrow

This is a bit sketchy but apparently Dr. Paisley has an in depth interview in the News Letter tomorrow. My understanding is that this interview may make for less than entirely popular reading for both Peter Robinson and indeed others in the DUP. I am led to believe that Dr. Paisley expands on his previous comments about Peter Robinson’s “clever device” and says that his own deal with McGuinness was a simple deal founded on his word (whatever value one …

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Cross posting: No platform for liberals

This is behind the paywall on forth but I’ve reproduced it here in full, in case anyone’s interested: No platform for liberals Precious pieties never solved anything, says JASON WALSH THE GREAT and the good, or at least the nice and the acceptable, of Northern society have come together once more to demand more niceness and less nastiness. Meet the Platform for Change. Officially launched today, the Platform for Change seeks to have the North’s politicians address pressing issues, such …

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Kriah. Pariah. McGlinchy.

Throughout the coverage of Gerry Adams’ actions/inactions around child abuse allegations particularly those centred on his brother one thing was consistent during the media cycle; the absolute support he received from his party and its leadership (with a notable one off exception from Arthur Morgan who was dealing with local difficulties) Yesterday’s Irish News claims Sinn Féin have a very different attitude to a party member further down the power pyramid. Family members have told the newspaper that Sean McGlinchey …

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“it is vital that we act with renewed vigour…”

The DUP/Sinn Féin “agreed” programme for “Cohesion, Sharing and Integration” is apparently sufficient for the Alliance Party Council to “almost” unanimously agree to nominate for the position of Northern Ireland Justice Minister. As for what has been resolved? Well, there’s the small matter of that “agreed” programme being “presented to the OFMDFM committee before being submitted to the Executive”, followed by a period of “public consultation”. But don’t let mere details get in the way. As David Ford says, “This …

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HIggins: Politicians must stand up to poorly informed and regular attacks…

I have a confession to make. As a class of people I like politicians, regardless of party. I had the pleasure of spending some time with Michael D Higgins at the BIPA. He’s at the senior end of his career, so has a certain rather useful perspective to share on life as a public representative. Today’s Irish Times covers his contribution in the Dail Committee on the Constitution debate: “Really bad programmes like The Frontline , presented by Pat Kenny, …

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Lady Hermon’s “difficult place”

The passing of the UUP’s deadline for nominations was accompanied by a statement from the party confirming that, despite efforts to find a compromise, the independently minded North Down MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, would not be seeking the party’s nomination as a general election candidate. As Turgon noted, there has also been confirmation of 9 agreed UCUNF candidates. For North Down, there are now two UUP names in the frame and the Conservative Party’s Ian Parsley has been waiting patiently …

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The Tories: “It’s their strategy that’s failing… half-baked renewal…”

Okay, so things aren’t going so well. As a result of the Westminster tie up with the Tories, the Ulster Unionists are now down to no seats going into June’s election. And as noted yesterday, the polls are looking bad for the Tories in Britain. As The Dissenter notes that’s a nice wee opportunity for the DUP to big up their potential in a hung parliament. James Forsyth has yet another acute take on the apparent decline of “the Cameron …

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A Northern Ireland Human Rights Bill will not go away

The extension to the end of March of the consultation period on the NIO’s virtual rejection of the NI Human Rights Commission’s Advice on an HR Bill looks like a small concession to its advocates. It will at least give them a little more time to begin laying down the parameters and benchmarks of a Bill itself for future consideration. Undaunted by the frigid reception, they’ll press on, noting optimistically that no party on either side of the water has …

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Getting more people involved in your policy making processes

The first of our Open Workshops in March, on the importance of Networks, next Tuesday, has sold out. The second on 8th March, which looks at the potential of new online networking tools to enhance policy making, is still open (details and booking form below the fold). It will look at how you can So far the web has been poor to sporadic in generating useful thinking or deliberation of any kind. Furthermore consultation is perceived by politicians and civil …

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UUP pick Westminster candidates

The UUP executive have apparently confirmed 9 of their candidates for Westminster. These are now the UCUNF candidates for the respective constituencies they are as follows: East Belfast Trevor Ringland West Belfast Bill Manwaring Upper Bann Harry Hamilton Mid Ulsrter Sandra Overend Lagan Valley Daphne Trimble Newry Armagh Danny Kennedy West Tyrone Ross Hussey Strangford Mike Nesbitt South Down John McCallister In addition although he has apparently denied it in the Irish News today, there is a large amount of …

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New hung parliament rules

I was on hand with oranges and hot towels today at the birth of a new piece of the British Constitution – the first steps in making public how a new government is actually formed, particularly in a Hung Parliament. Constitutional expert Vernon Bogdanor told the Justice Committee hearing that there had been a “lack of explanation” about what could happen and “the public has a right to know what the position is.”. So it was nice of them to …

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So what’s the deal with the party then Peter?

The trouble with these deals that we have not yet seen, nor has the likely putative Justice Minister is that we don’t know what they contain. But as raised here a few weeks ago, we still don’t know what might remotely trigger Robinson’s resignation. Lord Ken Magennis in last night’s Tele: Reports have suggested that the price extracted for their support for Hillsborough is a post-dated letter of resignation from the First Minister, to be cashed-in if the DUP decides …

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Thomas Devlin’s murderers convicted

The murderers of Thomas Devlin were found guilty today. Thomas was a 15 year old schoolboy from Somerton Road in North Belfast. He and two friends were coming back from buying sweets and fizzy drinks during a session of computer gaming. Just before they reached home they were attacked by Nigel Brown, 26, of Whitewell Road and Gary Taylor, 23, from Mountcollyer Avenue. Thomas was stabbed 9 times and died at the scene near his own home whilst one of …

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Warning for the Tories: Political roller coasters go down as well as up…

Julian Glover is not given to glib or easy judgements on how the two main UK parties are faring. But his newspaper’s poll is showing the same trend as other recent polls: that there appears to be a slow (and I would guess almost reluctant) rally to Gordon Brown. More worrying from a Tory perspective is that that rock solid 40%+ is looking decidedly soft. Although Cameron was his usual aggressive self in the Commons today, it was the Labour …

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Londonderry makes shortlist for UK City of Culture 2013

The BBC notes that Londonderry has made the shortlist in its bid to become the UK’s first City of Culture in 2013. Also in the running are Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield. [Brian will be pleased – Ed] Perhaps… According to the BBC report It is expected that the successful city would see economic and social benefits which could leave a lasting legacy. The winner could host events such as the Turner Prize, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the …

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Bill of Rights consultation extended to 31st March

Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward, has announced the extension of the public consultation on government proposals for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland by four weeks until 31st March 2010. Shaun Woodward MP said: “The Government believes that a Bill of Rights which has the support of the people of Northern Ireland could play an important role in underpinning the peace, prosperity and political progress of Northern Ireland, and we are committed to taking this work forward. …

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