Lee Reynolds

The UUP is concerned about the future of the Union and has proposed that a Royal Commission be established to look at the future of the British constitution. A good idea considered the half baked and unfinished nature of reforms under New Labour and the advantages to a cross-party consensus on any future reforms such a Commission could assist in developing. However, one of the proposers of the motion, George Savage, has a concern over present plans to codify the …

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The Policing Ombudsman has completed three inquiries into ‘collusion’ in murders by the UFF, IRA and UVF – the Greysteel attack, Mary Travers and Cairns brothers. No evidence to sustain claims of prior knowledge or protection of informers have been found but this has not led to acceptance of these conclusions – John Dallat stands by his claims, Alban McGuinness says there are still issues and Cairns family feel justice has been denied. Is re-examination of the past a search …

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Denis Bradley thinks the new attempts at devolution are going pretty well with ambuiguity receding but Alliance’s David Ford is doom and gloom about Lee Reynolds

Parliamentary questioning by UUP peer, Lord Laird, has revealed only 7 people have been charged with fuel laundering offences since 2002 despite scores of laudering plants being raided. It was estimated in 2006 alone that fuel laudering cost the Exchequer £245 million. Lee Reynolds

The SDLP has announced it will establish a committee to examine all-Ireland links including discussions with the Fianna Fail committee. A straw poll of SDLP members at their party conference shows strong support for a link-up with Fianna Fail and in a policy u-turn for going into opposition. Lee Reynolds

Nationalist movements always face a dilemma with devolution, to reject it or work it. All the elected nationalist parties in the UK have opted for working it in the hope their good governance leads to increased support for secession. However, they run the risk of being used by voters who in an unitary state seek a ‘local hero’ against the central government but baulk at the final step e.g. Quebec. The 2007 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey shows support for independence …

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Tony’s Blair’s uneveness and spasmodic nature of constitutional reform left it incomplete. Gordon Brown has stated his intention to carry on with the reforms but continues, as Blair did, to assiduously avoid answering the West Lothian question. The Conservatives seem to be toying with the idea of an English Grand Committee as an answer and Iain Dale is keen for it to be considered. However, Jack Straw argues that it is unworkable in practical terms. Straw points out similar notions …

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Peter Robinson in a written answer (see below the fold) has confirmed that a Land Value Tax is one of the options being examined as part of the rates review. Other areas which apply this model include agricultural land but our present rating system does not. SDLP MLA Declan O’Loan and Ulster Famers Union have stated their opposition to the idea becuase of the potential impact on rural communities.DFP questions here. Rating of Agricultural Land Mr D O’Loan asked the …

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While Labour and Conservatives prepare for the parliamentary battle to deny/secure a UK referendum on the new EU Treaty, on Week at Westminster an SNP MP Angus Robertson has raised the possibility of consultative referenda by the devolved institutions. He also said the NI minister responsible for European affairs (who is that?) was in favour of a referendum. This is the first EU Treaty to be developed post-devolution and the SNP is known to be angry over its financial settlement …

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It may have survived Irish secession and the second World War but it seems the Common Travel Area may soon be over. The UK intends to introduce an e-border scheme for all air and sea passengers in 2009. This would mean Irish citizens would need to be in possession of a passport when entering the UK by those means. The UK is not expected to apply the scheme to the land border and it appears the Irish government may introduce …

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The ‘lambs’ held off the Swedish wolves gaining a 1-1 draw in Stockholm and the Republic of Ireland squeaked a draw against Cyprus, 1-1. England are left relying on other results after defeat in Russia 2-1. Scotland faltered losing to Georgia 2-0. Wales defeated minnows San Marino 2-1. Lee Reynolds

Newton Emerson is not impressed by the work of the Bill of Rights Forum. He believes that the working group reports show it will be a left wing wish list. One core problem in his criticism, the reports that have him working up a sweat are the old reports of the NIHRC process. The new working groups are not bound by their work in any way. A key reason there is another attempt is that the necessary political support couldn’t …

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In a speech at the week-end, Peter Robinson has set out his stall on Executive polices, the economy, administrative structures and the operation of the Assembly. He claims the new Programme for Government will be: “…a radical change of direction across a whole range of policies from the direct rule administration.” On the future of public spending and the economy he makes clear that: “…days of large increases in public spending are not sustainable. We need an economy that creates …

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The BBC Chairman has made it clear no part of the BBC will be immune to its cuts programme and that this will mean fewer programmes. What will be the impact in the local BBC and what areas will suffer the most? Lee Reynolds

A Dublin SF member, who was convicted for his part in a sectarian attack on a pub in Londonderry, has been ‘summarily dismissed‘ from the party. Lee Reynolds

The Politics Show takes a look at the range of worker disputes the NI Executive and individual ministers will face. ICTU believe the solution is to follow the European model of Labour courts to address disputes (German Labour court info here and Belgium Labour Court info here). Will a devolved assembly adopt the more corporatist European approach or stay with the UK’s approach? Or would the creation of such a body be politicians trying to avoid hard decisions and the …

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Martin Morgan offers his thoughts on the complex debate around the Irish language. Lee Reynolds

Alex Kane argues that the devolutionary settlement means that fear as a motivator for voters will be greatly reduced. This will require Unionist parties to broaden their appeals through legislation with a positive effect on people’s lives and: To attract votes—and I don’t just mean from the Protestant/unionist community—the unionist parties have to champion relevant, practical, effective and costed policies…they have to prove that the devolution they have demanded for decades is actually worth having. Lee Reynolds

The EU is facing a number of practical problems in implementing the official language status for Irish and is pointing the finger at the Irish government. The official grammar is out of date, a lack of properly qualified translators, no conference translation training available and the Irish government hasn’t translated existing EU law into Gaelic. Lee Reynolds

An Orange Hall attacked in Portadown (the 2nd such attack in the area in 24 hours) Lee Reynolds