David McCann – Page 20 – Slugger O'Toole

Nationalism should focus on Presidential Voting Rights, rather than an immediate Border Poll

David McCann on March 19, 2017, 8:13 pm

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Áras an Uachtaráin - residence of the Irish President, and soon to be home to Northern Irish bees

Kevin Meagher wrote an article during the week writing about the inevitability of a United Ireland due to the current circumstances that we now face. I have always been suspicious of any view that sees any political outcome as inevitable. It tends to stifle debate and any new thinking on an issue and I have never believed for a moment that this will just fall into our laps. This outcome will have to be argued for and driven forward as …

Nesbitt; “Northern Ireland’s future within the United Kingdom will be best secured by maximising the number of people who are content and happy with their lot”

David McCann on March 12, 2017, 5:02 pm

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Yesterday Mike Nesbitt addressed the UUP Executive for the final time as party leader. In his speech he focused on his 5 year leadership and had a few shots at the DUP. His full speech is available on the News Letter website. He made some points about the general attitude of Unionism arguing; Unionism needs to engage more. There is no point complaining the White House and the USA are biased, if the only voices they hear are Irish nationalist …

Building a bigger tent should still be a priority for Nationalism

David McCann on March 6, 2017, 4:08 pm

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Nationalism stands strong in the new Assembly with more seats, more votes and is now in a position to deliver more. I watched from the Titanic Count Centre on Friday, victory after victory for the Nationalist parties. Sinn Fein’s tsunami started in West Belfast and swept the province leaving opponents from People Before Profit to the UUP reeling. The SDLP also had some resilience and managed to gain a seat in Lagan Valley and came close to winning another in …

Nesbitt quits as UUP Leader #ae17

David McCann on March 3, 2017, 8:06 pm

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Mike Nesbitt has just confirmed that he will step down as UUP Leader David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

#AE17 draws to a close; what’s your punt for count day?

David McCann on March 1, 2017, 12:24 pm

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Tonight we have Slugger’s Big Election Punt (in partnership with MW Advocate) where our panel will have to make some key predictions about the upcoming election. In that spirit we thought we would ask you about what you think will happen tomorrow in terms of the parties. For what it’s worth here is my punt (Some variation as a few seats such as South Belfast & Upper Bann are just too close to call). DUP; 30-31 Sinn Fein; 23-24 UUP; …

#BBCNIDebate sees energetic exchanges & a broad range of issues discussed

David McCann on February 28, 2017, 11:07 pm

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The five main party leaders gathered at the BBC Blackstaff studio tonight to discuss issues such as RHI, Brexit, Direct Rule & cross community voting. Chaired by Noel Thompson, he very ably directed candidates and the audience through out the night. For me, the strongest performance was from Colum Eastwood. For parties like the SDLP, just letting people know that you are on the stage is an achievement and he did this in spades tonight. From the opening segment on …

Can Nationalism bounce back in #ae17?

David McCann on February 28, 2017, 12:55 pm

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The Irish News Political Correspondent, John Manley has an interesting analysis piece in todays paper about the state of play within Nationalism He writes; Commentator Chris Donnelly has characterised this trend as the “nationalist malaise”. He believes its roots lie in the fact that the nationalist-republican community has become more contented within Northern Ireland. For those who believe changing demographics will ultimately deliver Irish unification, this electoral apathy is a deep concern. On the evidence of recent election results, the …

Aiken believes that the UUP could win more seats than Sinn Fein

David McCann on February 28, 2017, 9:31 am

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It was a bumpy ride for Steve Aiken on Nolan yesterday. In politics it is a good thing to go into a contest with high ambitions but they also need to be credible. For information the UUP are running 24 candidates, Sinn Fein are running 34 candidates. UUP are at roughly 13 seats in a 90 seat Assembly, Sinn Fein are at around 24 seats. As for the DUP they are running 38 candidates and are at 31 seats in …

DUP received £425k for the Brexit referendum

David McCann on February 24, 2017, 8:24 am

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The wait is over and we now know how much the DUP received during the Brexit referendum and just who donated. RTE reports that; The Democratic Unionist Party has confirmed that it received £425,000 from a group of business people led by a Scottish Conservative party member and passed it on to help fund the UK pro-Brexit campaign. The money was used to help finance an advertising campaign in Britain during the EU referendum. The money was given to the …

Kenny calls for United Ireland provision in Brexit deal

David McCann on February 23, 2017, 10:22 pm

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The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny was speaking today about some provisions he would like to see in any Brexit deal which included a deal that would see Northern Ireland back in the EU should the electorate decide to vote for Irish unity. Outlining his position he said; “In other words, that in such future time, whenever that might be, were it [reunification] to occur, that the north of Ireland would have ease of access to join as a member of the …

DUP set out their battle lines in a question less manifesto launch

David McCann on February 20, 2017, 7:03 pm

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The DUP launched their manifesto at Stormont Hotel today. The document which is basically an appendix to their 2016 Manifesto sets out some of the party’s approach towards the negotiations that are likely to follow this election. Arlene Foster set out 10 principles; 1. We will work to avoid Direct Rule and get local government back at Stormont as quickly as possible. That means we will work with all of those who have a mandate to see if it is …

“I no longer have confidence in the ability of Enda Kenny TD to lead Fine Gael”

David McCann on February 17, 2017, 1:38 pm

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Fine Gael TD, Alan Farrell is the latest to declare no confidence in Enda Kenny; Unfortunately, I no longer have confidence in the ability of Enda Kenny TD to lead Fine Gael and I believe his position is now untenable. Fine Gael, as a party in Government, requires a leader who can manage the party in a manner which inspires faith amongst the Parliamentary Party, our local representatives and the wider membership. I wish the acknowledge Enda Kenny’s unwavering commitment to public service …

Electoral Reform Society finds little transfers between opposite blocs.

David McCann on February 17, 2017, 11:31 am

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The Electoral Reform Society has today released findings from their survey of how we voted last May and the findings really blows a hole in the idea that transfers will be flowing from Unionists to Nationalists or vice versa. The study draws on data from thousands of respondents – over 4,000 – to create the largest database of voting patterns for NI. It shows that while only a small number – 4% of Catholics and 2% of Protestants – give their …

Foster open to getting rid of the Petition of Concern

David McCann on February 14, 2017, 8:04 pm

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Speaking to the BBC she said; “We talk a lot about the petition of concern and our opponents talk a lot about the petition of concern,” she said. “We would actually like to see the petition of concern got rid of for everything, but I think our opponents would like to keep it for the things they want to to use the petition of concern for and not allow us to use it.” The Alliance Party Leader, Naomi Long made …

Opposition Parties risk turning #ae17 into a referendum on themselves rather than the past decade

David McCann on February 13, 2017, 2:03 pm

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The SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood has an interesting piece on the Eamonn Mallie website which is worth reading in full He stops short of the full declaration that Nesbitt made yesterday on The Sunday Politics but he does make the case for shifting from the DUP and Sinn Fein as he writes; The SDLP has not been historically in the business of advocating formal transfer pacts and we will not be advocating such a pact in this election. However, it …

Nesbitt says he will transfer to the SDLP

David McCann on February 12, 2017, 8:11 pm

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The UUP Leader, Mike Nesbitt was being interviewed today on The Sunday Politics , where he told Mark Carruthers; In terms of preferences, I’m saying vote Ulster Unionist and then vote for any candidate that you trust will deliver for your community, for your constituency and for this country. He then went on to say; I will be transferring from my Ulster Unionist votes to the SDLP. He did make it clear that he was only speaking for himself and …

Foster “Once again we stand at the political crossroads”

David McCann on February 11, 2017, 10:27 am

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Arlene Foster has taken the Irish News to write a platform piece seeking to debunk myths about her relationship with Sinn Fein On the Irish Language Act she said; Let me say from the outset I respect those who have different cultural interests to me. Those who genuinely want to learn and speak the Irish language are entitled to do so as part of the increasing diversity of our society. However there can be no escaping the fact that some …

Jonathan Bell to stand as an independent in Strangford #ae17

David McCann on February 7, 2017, 6:02 pm

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Former DUP Minister, Jonathan Bell announced on Nolan this morning that he is standing as an independent in the Strangford constituency Bell received 3,393 first preferences in 2016 and was elected on the 3rd seat. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

SDLP Campaign Launch puts Upper Bann firmly in their sights

David McCann on February 6, 2017, 1:22 pm

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The SDLP launched their campaign in Lurgan today with party leader Colum Eastwood setting out the party’s stall for the upcoming election. Eastwood did not mention other particular constituencies, but did spend time speaking about Upper Bann, which until last May was held by Dolores Kelly until Catherine Seeley from Sinn Fein won the seat. Here is what he had to say; Before addressing the continuing campaign that lies before us in the next few weeks, I would like say …

Foster: “Are you serious? You think the DUP should implement an Irish Language Act?”

David McCann on February 6, 2017, 12:57 pm

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It was a tale of two campaign launches this morning as the DUP and Sinn Fein launched their campaigns for the upcoming election. The DUP Leader, Arlene Foster was asked about her party’s policy on an Irish Language Act and her response was swift and decisive. She compared the implementing of one to “feeding a crocodile” which would simply see more demands made for Unionism However, Michelle O’Neill at the Waterfromt Hall was not taking the bait; Asked about …