Lee Reynolds The actor Ian Richardson, aka Sir Francis Urquhart, has died. It was his masterful performance that made the House of Cards arguably the best TV British political drama ever made. Lee Reynolds
I have finally finished the article about the McCord/O’Loan report. I missed a few earlier ‘target dates’ but this is Ulster politics ;-). It will appear in five sections over Friday and Saturday. More details below.Part 1 will be – Unionist attitudes on policing and an assessment of the McCord/O’Loan report itself. It will be online at 4pm Friday. Part 2 will be – An analysis of the Unionist response to the McCord/O’Loan report. it will be online at 7pm …
A Catholic woman in Londonderry, herself a victim of a sectarian arson attack eight years ago, has had her house attacked by Catholic youths. Her ‘crime’ was to assist her Protestant neighbours who had their windows broke during sectarian attacks on the Irish Street area. Lee Reynolds
Jack Straw has published proprosals for the reform of the House of Lords, full proposals here (pdf file). It advocates a 50% elected 50% appointed breakdown (60% political party appointees 40% independent appointments) and a reduction in its size to 540. Elections will be held at the same time as European Elections and on the same regional basis with a third of elected peers, 90 seats, up for election at any one time. Elected and appointed peers will have a …
The Association for Quality Education has proposed six forms of pupil selection (Word document) as alternatives to the 11plus. Their preferred new approach is Computer Adaptive Testing. Spokesperson, Sir Ken Bloomfield, believes this approach will prevent the middle class buying advantage: The great thing about it, I think, is that it is protective against coaching. One of the major objections, I think, to the present system is that middle class parents are able to obtain coaching for their children based …
Sub-zero tempartures. A venue with very limited facilities. A pitch showing distinct wear and tear. A predictably mediocre and dull game of football. Paid £25 for the privilege. What was the alternative? A warm house. A venue with plenty of facilities – 42 Inch TV, proper chinese food and cold beer. The same mediocre and dull match but the alternative of other channels. Cost, a few quid for the beers. The Sun is presently running a campaign to lower the …
The Conservatives have finally come out against the ID card scheme. With poll analysis predicting a hung parliament David Davis’s targeting of potential contractors may make them think twice and add to the government’s difficulties in implementing the scheme.Just as I was about to order 10,000 “You can have my iris scan from my cold dead body” bumper stickers. ;-). Lee Reynolds
For those of you not signed up to the Politics Show email here is how Jim Fitzpatrick signed off this week: “Political Titbit: The SDLP policy on equal opportunity states: “We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. All members, employees and job applicants will be treated fairly. Selection for employment, promotion, training or any other benefit will be based solely on aptitude and ability.” Just don’t tell Alan McQuillan or Chris Albiston. Lee Reynolds
At a recent Orange Order meeting Grand Secretary Drew Nelson attacked the government for its failure to engage with the Institution on a range of issues and argued that Northern Ireland remains a cold house. While his comments were aimed at government was it also meant as a shot across the DUP’s bows? The lack of concrete proposals on parades in the St Andrews Agreement is known to have caused dissatisfaction. The government inaction even on those modest proposals has …
The Sunday Life is in a hopeful mood with its predictions for the 10 ministries in an Executive. With more big names than seats available its stuck its neck out for who will get the positions. It expects it to be a 4-2-2-2 split with two women taking seats. So the faces they are saying to look out for our – Robinson, Dodds, Foster, Campbell, Murphy, Gildernew, Durkan, Maginness, Empey and Birnie. (Hat tip to D)The Foster prediction will raise …
Mark Devenport interviews Robert McCartney QC MLA about the upcoming election (Realplayer reqd about 7 minutes 30 seconds in). His responses give the strong impression that there will not be a major electoral challenge from the UKUP at the next election. The call to his banner appears to have been unsuccessful despite rumours of NIO polls giving anti-St Andrews candidates a chance in a number of East Ulster constituencies. Instead he pushes the anti-agreement mantle towards the ‘heavy-hitter’ sceptics within …
The GMB Union has identified 457 primary and secondary schools across all the different sectors that are below the Bain thresholds, full list here (pdf file). In addition to pupil numbers “social, economic and quality of education issues” will be included in the decision-making process to maintain, amalgamate or close. Lee Reynolds
Guido Fawkes has released a copy of Peter Hain’s political Plan B.Following the debacle over a list of supporting/non-supporting MP’s for his Deputy Leadership bid, Peter Hain’s spluttering campaign has now had its new revised public/private supporters list and campaign strategy leaked (zip file of a pdf file). From the comment section it seems he is as unappreciated elsewhere in the UK as here. Lee Reynolds
In a RTE interview, Gary Mitchell, the intimidated Loyalist playwright, has confirmed his latest work will be on the relationship between the police and loyalist paramilitaries (membership reqd). His own and extended family are still in Northern Ireland after a number of moves for their own security. In a defiant interview, he attacks highlights ongoing paramilitary influence and the BBC for bias: I always tell the truth, and if people aren’t happy, I see it as their problem…There are no-go …
The Irish Indo (membership reqd) is claiming that ex-Special Branch officers attacked in the O’Loan report are considering naming names of senior agents if the Police Ombudsman continues to accuse them of collusion: Former Branch men are now saying that if the Ombudsman continues to make public claims about them, then they are prepared to breach the Official Secrets Act and release secrets that could include the identities of high-level informers. This could include former IRA agents run by the …
The Sunday Business Post latest tracking poll is out and Fianna Fail has got the expected budget bounce with their best results in a year 42%. With their present partners the PD’s on 3% the ruling coalition is on 45%, 12% ahead of Fine Gael (21%) and Labour (12%) and 5% ahead of a ‘Rainbow’ coalition. Independents are on 8% ahead of the Greens and Sinn Fein, both on 7%. This continues the lack of yeast in SF’s poll numbers …
The latest report on how to teach Britishness has been released. It argues that so far schools have failed to embrace the subject and called for a beefed up approach, full report here (pdf file). In the Observer, Conservative leader, David Cameron, takes up the theme as his party prepares to make its recommendations on the issue. In a somewhat curious contribution to the debate, he agrees with the central tenets of Labours approach – criticism of multi-culturalism, the need …
The Derry City Council legal challenge to the use of Londonderry as the city’s official name has been rejected. The High Court has ruled the renaming of the Council 23 years ago did not change the city’s official name, granted in 1613. Lee Reynolds
Oh dear! Lee Reynolds
An extraordinary meeting of Ogra Shinn Fein’s National Congress has rejected the party leadership’s Ard Fheis motion. Their adopted motion also offers OSF’s answer to the question of what is the alternative strategy? Lee Reynolds
