Lee Reynolds

These threads try to engage TUV thinking around Unionism’s options and its future opportunities. In particular, it focuses upon the ‘Direct Rule’ alternative to the present devolutionary system. It aims to examine its morality and suitability for the interests of the Union and Unionist community. In the final part the conclusions are drawn.Previous thread Conclusion At the core of TUV’s critique of the St Andrew’s Agreement is its undemocratic nature and questions of civic morality of Sinn Fein in government. …

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These threads try to engage TUV thinking around Unionism’s options and its future opportunities. In particular, it focuses upon the ‘Direct Rule’ alternative to the present devolutionary system. It aims to examine its morality and suitability for the interests of the Union and Unionist community. Part 3 outlines the arguments for devolution and other relevant issues.Previous thread The option of devolution The publication is strongly pro-devolution. It criticises those who campaigned for the option of integration, dismissing it as: “…it …

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These threads try to engage TUV thinking around Unionism’s options and its future opportunities. In particular, it focuses upon the ‘Direct Rule’ alternative to the present devolutionary system. It aims to examine its morality and suitability for the interests of the Union and Unionist community. Part 2 examines whether direct rule is good rule and whether direct rule would be British rule.Previous thread Direct rule = Good rule? In the publication, there is a deep distrust of the Government. He …

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These threads try to engage TUV thinking around Unionism’s options and its future opportunities. In particular, it focuses upon the ‘Direct Rule’ alternative to the present devolutionary system. It aims to examine its morality and suitability for the interests of the Union and Unionist community. Part 1 focuses on St Andrews, the DUP and TUV, the immediate alternatives and a publication called Alienated but Unbowed.The St. Andrews Agreement Like TUV supporters, I was not happy with the St Andrew’s Agreement …

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Bebo has become the source of much difficulty in interface areas with the site being used to organise peace-line confrontations between young people. However, this phenomenon is not unique to Northern Ireland and in Derby police have acted on information from the site to tackle gang fights. One for the PSNI to watch. Lee Reynolds

The electoral office is planning to make an example of 50 people for not registering to vote. Vote registration is now a legal requirement and failure to do so is punishable by a £1000 fine. Lee Reynolds

The tri-partite consultation on the future constitutional arrangements for Scotland has commenced (funded by the Scottish Parliament and UK government). This will be competing with the SNP Minority Government’s national conversation. The latest consultation will examine the thorny and complex issue of the UK funding arrangements – the infamous Barnett formula. Nick Robinson seems to think Barnett is on its way out. Maybe the Northern Ireland Executive should be thinking of making a submission and we could learn something from …

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While the west lothian question remains unanswered, one of its towns, Armdale, is experimenting with a possible answer to underage on street drinking – raising the age of purchase in off licences to 21. The scheme has previously operated in Cleveland with significant success. Update I have been told that in Irvinestown the DPP got the local off licences to adopt different coloured bags to make it easier for police to identify the source. Should off-licences be required to have …

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A new MORI poll about identities shows Britishness seems to be doing fine in its three constituent parts of Great Britain: 81% in England felt a strong sense of belonging to Britain, compared with 87% in Wales and with 70% in Scotland and it’s worth noting that, that for all the focus on the role on the Union in Scotland, 71% in London felt a strong sense of belonging to Britain, virtually the same percentage as in Scotland. The regional …

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Northern Ireland had a comfortable 4-1 victory over Georgia. England lost 1-0 to France. Scotland drew 1-1 with Croatia. Wales won 2-0 over Luxembuorg. Lee Reynolds

If Brown is trying to woo DUP votes on 42 days detention, the seduction does not seem to have been going too well. Mark Devenport notes that the in-out approach to Northern Ireland of Brown’s constitutional programme has not pleased. With Robinson attacking Straw’s exclusion of NI from the proposed flag regulations (An exclusion based on “best advice” (from who?) even though it has a limited impact in any of the devolved regions) and both Dodds and Campbell asking questions …

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Seamus Mallon has backed changes to the designation system in the Assembly and the means of forming an Executive. Lee Reynolds

The Squinter column may or may not have been the spur but Gerry Adams has launched a strong attack on the delivery of the PSNI. He states: “…the reality at this time is that the PSNI is failing to deliver; it is failing to deliver on call out times, on responding to information from the public, in its investigations of anti-social and organised crime.” While the courts and probation services roles in all this should not be overlooked, have we …

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The FT is reporting that a cross-party consensus on a 400 member senate (80-100% elected using STV or list) is near with proposals to be published before the summer recess. ‘Senators’ will be paid but will not receive office allowances and serve for terms of 12 to 15 years. While the article is somewhat short on detail the proposals for a phased replacement of the existing Lords and described areas of consituency (80 to 100 constituencies) could raise issues for …

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The Times has called for the Monarch to be invited to visit the Republic of Ireland sooner rather than later and describes the linkage of a visit with policing and justice powers as ‘churlish’. It concludes: It would indeed be desirable for Ulster to determine such arrangements locally but this is a complex issue and it does not help for a royal trip to be seen to be contingent on a result over a specified timetable. Announcing now that the …

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Hard pressed Education Minister Catriona Ruane has found time to get her officials to change her ministerial email address so it does not include the abbreviation ‘uk’ opting instead for ‘eu’. A SF spokesperson reacted angrily to press enquiries about the issue. Lee Reynolds

Following a murder in West Belfast the BBC reports Sinn Fein will support a tougher policing approach to anti-social behaviour in the area. However where does the line between tough and heavy handed lie? Lee Reynolds

Jonathan Powell claims yes the DUP did have a back channel to Sinn Fein (allegedly a journalist) but the DUP say no they did not, absolutely not. Powell also claims that McGuinness considers the Bloody Sunday Inquiry was unnecessary with an apology sufficient, it would have certainly been more cost-effective. Meanwhile on the trivia side Blair was spitting feathers that Ahern had a better gift for the Paisleys wedding anniversary than they had. Lee Reynolds

Lumpen Lumen Christi, a top grammar school, has announced it will introduce its own aptitude test for prospective pupils because of the ongoing confusion about the post 11+ arrangements. Lee Reynolds

Despite turning down the option of an Executive Committee to look at the issue of selection, the Belfast Telegraph says multi-party talks are ongoing around the issue. It claims the Education Minister may be to willing to concede continuing academic selection but only as a temporary measure. Lee Reynolds