David McCann 
Chris has taken a look at South Belfast, but one seat that needs to be examined is South Down. At the start of the race, I would have punted that this seat would have been more likely than not to remain in SDLP hands, but as the campaign has progressed it has become much more difficult to call. We have had a campaign were some of the issues have benefited Hazzard, from the Jim Wells tweet fiasco which would help …
Slugger O’Toole: Episode 1 from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo. Slugger TV debuted on NVTV last night with a panel of the Irish News Security Correspondent, Allison Morris and our own Alan Meban. We looked at the key constituencies of the campaign and some of the moments of the election campaign. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
At the SDLP manifesto launch, Colum Eastwood was asked by the Irish News Political Correspondent, John Manley about a border poll and here is how he responded; I want a border poll, we’ve just made it a lot more winnable, because of the work that Mark and our MPs did in Westminster with David Davis. The work that we did in negotiations when we were talking about lots of different things, we were talking to the British Secretary of State …
Issues Leo Varadkar Simon Coveney United Ireland Believes in preparing for Shared Sovereignty or a United Ireland. However says it needs support in both communities. Opposes Border Poll now Wants a White Paper on Irish unity drafted by November 2017. Supports establishment of an All Ireland Forum in 2018. Opposes Border Poll now. North-South relations Supports good relations and commits to help restoring the Executive. Wants joint Dail Committee to examine possibilities for North-South relations. Brexit …
As the current polls are pointing to the Conservatives being returned to office with an enhanced majority and the DUP’s influence is likely to evaporate. However, reading the Conservative Manifesto I wondered whether some of this might be premature as I focused on the Northern Ireland section. Here is where I must put the health warning that proof will be in the eating. But I have highlighted some key passages from the manifesto. Let’s start off with Devolution as the …
The deadline for nominations have passed and there are two confirmed candidates for the job with Minister’s Simon Coveney & Leo Varadkar in the race to replace Enda Kenny as Fine Gael Leader. How does the process work? Each of the candidates has been nominated by at least 10% of the Parliamentary Party (PP), comprised of TDs, Senators and MEPs. The process for electing the next Leader of Fine Gael is defined in Rule 49 of the Fine Gael Constitution …
Sylvia Hermon is one of the most successful independent candidates in our local history at a Westminster Level. She won the North Down seat in 2001, held the seat against a DUP surge in 2005, crushed her UCUNF opponent by double digits in 2010 and was safely re-elected in 2015. In 2017, she will continue her record as the MP for North Down. Now the UUP are realising that it’s not worth the battle and are pulling out in favour …
Alliance Party (18 candidates) East Antrim – Stewart Dickson East Belfast – Naomi Long East Londonderry – Chris McCaw Fermanagh and South Tyrone – Noreen Campbell Foyle – John Doherty Lagan Valley – Aaron McIntyre Mid Ulster – Fay Watson Newry and Armagh – Jackie Coade North Antrim – Patricia O’Lynn North Belfast – Sam Nelson North Down – Andrew Muir South Antrim – Neil Kelly South Belfast – Paula Bradshaw South Down – Andrew McMurray Strangford – Kellie Armstrong …
Today is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, were some very brave individuals will be telling their stories about how they deal with important issues and for the readers of this website who might be struggling I thought it would useful to share my own experiences. I suffer from an Anxiety disorder. Since 2011, I have battled something that in a nut shell makes me panic, feel unable to relax and can make doing some of the things you …
The Sinn Fein Leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill has made a proposal towards the SDLP that is almost certain to be rejected. I am calling therefore on the SDLP to give a clear run to John Finucane and Michelle Gildernew as the only credible anti-Brexit, pro equality and pro-rights candidates in North Belfast and Fermanagh South Tyrone.” O’Neill is asking for the SDLP to stand aside in North Belfast and Fermanagh/South Tyrone. In both the SDLP have little chance …
From the BBC’S Mark Devenport; DUP leader Arlene Foster and UUP leader Robin Swann said they would continue to discuss better unionist co-operation beyond the election. But they could not agree on an overall pact, despite the parties already deciding against splitting the unionist vote in some key constituencies. The report continues quoting both leaders; “Both of our parties want to see the strongest possible vote for pro-union candidates standing in all of the 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland,” they …
The French people are choosing today between Centrist, Emmanuel Macron and the Front National’s, Marine Le Pen. Both candidates went through to the second round two weeks ago. Some key things to look out for this evening Results will be in at 7pm our time. An exit poll will be published by the main networks projecting a winner, these polls are normally very accurate and over the past number of elections they have got the result to within 1% of the …
1st May 2017, marked the 20th anniversary of the election of Tony Blair as British Prime Minister. For the current Labour Leadership, a huge part of their existence is owed to a repudiation of the Blair years with its mix of missed opportunities and misadventures such as the War in Iraq. Fianna Fail and Ireland face another anniversary over the coming weeks as the 6th June marks the 20th anniversary of the 1997 General Election which brought Bertie Ahern to …
Chris had a piece up this morning about whether a Nationalist/Remain understanding was still possible for the upcoming elections. Following on from his post I contacted the SDLP to see if the party were going to stand in the various constituencies across the North and the response I received from a party spokesman is below; The SDLP sought to bring together a broad coalition of parties and candidates to maximise the pro-Europe mandate in Northern Ireland. When it was clear …
Former Sinn Fein Vice President and MP for West Tyrone since 2001, Pat Doherty has announced he will not seek re-election. His successor will be local MLA, Barry McElduff, who will be defending a majority of 10,060 votes that the party achieved at the 2015 election. So far the confirmed candidates are, Daniel McCrossan of the SDLP and Alicia Clarke of the UUP. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him …
After visiting The Queen, Theresa May fired the opening shots of the campaign from the steps of Downing Street with what has stunned even some Brexiters. UK PM Theresa May accuses EU politicians and officials of seeking to influence the result of #GE2017https://t.co/6dQPV7H3Wcpic.twitter.com/MT4YiQsVdz — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 3, 2017 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
The former UKIP Leader, Nigel Farage thinks that the EU is stoking Irish Nationalism EU are stoking Irish nationalism to make Brexit negotiations difficult. Their behaviour is contemptible. pic.twitter.com/0FFjuEnlS7 — Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 2, 2017 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs
In today’s Tyrone Herald, Ryan McAleer reports that another SDLP Councillor has resigned from the party in Cookstown. McAleer reports that Tony Quinn from Cookstown has left the party as he finds the party political process to be “self-seeking.” Quinn is the 4th SDLP Councillor to quit in the past 12 months and brings the party’s representation on Mid-Ulster District Council to 5. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow …
A German Newspaper FAZ has an extensive report on the meeting between the European Commission President, Jean Claude Juncker and Theresa May just last week. It has been reported that the meeting did not go well but just how bad was not know until yesterday. Jeremy Cliffe of the Economist in Berlin has very kindly transcribed the meeting on his Twitter feed and here are the total exchanges from the article as transcribed by Forbes where you can find the extensive …
South Belfast is set to be one of the most competitive races in Northern Ireland for the upcoming General Election. Unlike the other 17 constituencies, four parties are running in this seat who are within a few percentage points of each other. On The View, Gareth Gordon put out a useful report on how the constituency has changed over the past few decades. What used to be a straight, UUP-SDLP battle for the seat, now has four parties seriously eyeing …
