Gurkhas win test case
Gurkhas have won their test case against the government. They challenged immigration rules which blocked many of them from settling in the UK. Lee Reynolds
Lee Reynolds
Replacing the panes
Tom Kelly looks at the role and challenges of women in Ulster politics. Lee Reynolds
Exclusive: Stormont clears bottleneck
Full details here .Sorry couldn’t resist. Lee Reynolds
Devil in the detail?
David Cameron has admitted that there are some difficulties in established the future UUP/Tory relationship. Devenport seems to focus upon where Sylvia Hermon stands. Lord Trimble’s intervention seems to have contributed to some electoral and relationship concerns. The subtext seems to be the Conservatives looking for a full merger with Ulster Unionists happier with what has been described as the CSU/CDU model. Chekov argues the jitters are natural and Mark Devenport suggests a large financial carrot for the UUP, up …
“…violence as a cheery caper”
Ann Marie Hourihane reviews the Breakout programme. She concludes that: “But viewers of Breakout were left asking if there is no spectacle the Protestant people of Northern Ireland will not have to endure to make republicans feel better about themselves. Is there no victory dance, be it ever so puerile, that they are not going to be forced to witness? There’s a real danger that the IRA is going to bore the rest of us to death. But even Free …
From South Armagh to Belfast
The power of pound signs. Lee Reynolds
Castlewellan GAA hall attacked
It seems increasing likely that an arson attack on a Castlewellan GAA hall had a sectarian motivation. The hall also functions as a local comunity centre. Sinn Fein has appealed for calm and blamed negative comments about the GAA. The DUP has called for attacks to cease and the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order has said: “An arson attack on any community hall is an attack on the whole community and must be condemned by everyone. Anyone with any …
There is a problem. No there isn’t
An opponent of academic selection, Prof Tony Gallagher, has criticised the lack of information about the new proposals for education: “Potentially the greatest resource we have in our education system is our teachers, and we should be doing things to try to ensure that they have clarity on where things are going, so they can tell the parents who are lining up at their doors seeking clarity what’s going on,” Catriona Ruane denies there is a problem: “People right across …
Escalation in school legal threats
The Education Minister had previously warned grammar schools that they faced potential legal problems if they created their own tests. Today she went further and threatened primary schools with legal action from the Department if they helped prepare children for the independent test. If there is one thing she knows its… Lee Reynolds
Meet now and devolve in a year’a time?
Speaking at the Labour Conference has called for the NI Executive to meet, outlined a possible 1 year timetable for the devolution of Policing and Justice and promised to help with what was needed to make it happen in that time-frame. Lee Reynolds
Three Executive Parties to meet
The UUP, SDLP and DUP Executive Ministers are to hold their own meeting to discuss: “the energy and cost-of-living crisis and, in particular, a set of proposals from Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie which include the idea of a £32 million relief package to help up to 160,000 homeowners with their electricity and gas bills.” Lee Reynolds
Fermanagh – Foster wins
In the interim all the rumours from the jungle drums while the count continues and later on the actual results. The 2005 results are below the fold for information purposes. UPDATE First count results below Foster in front. SF call recount. Recount complete SF vote increases by 1.UNCONFIRMED The DUP’s Arlene Foster has won It was the unionist co-operation message wot done it. 2008 by-election 1st count (SF call recount) Debbie Coyle (SF) 1815 1816 (28.8% +0.3%) Rosemary Flanaghan (SDLP) …
Initial Boundary Proposals announced
The Local Government Boundary Commissioner has launched his preliminary proposals for consultation. Lee Reynolds
Never v Very Emphatic No
David Ford has said Alliance have not ruled out taking the Policing and Justice ministry. He argues: “No politician of any wit ever says never,” Last month his position was: “…a very definite and a very emphatic no” Lee Reynolds
Inspiration from a by-election?
The artistic mind is often odd but it seems that the Enniskillen by-election has ‘inspired’ one of them. Debbie Coyle and Arlene Foster have been given the role of muse rather than battleship. The drawing was used to illustrate a SF campaign letter that says: Canvas returns over the past week are telling us that this election contest is neck and neck. A “two horse race”. Lee Reynolds
The Prime Minister visits
Gordon Brown will be visiting the Assembly today and into the midst of the ongoing problems caused by Sinn Fein’s blocking of Executive business. On Our Kingdom I examine the issues involved, SF’s problem with the practicalities of power-sharing and argue that how the manner in which the process got here is not the means to bed it down: Stability will be produced by giving parties no other option but to resolve their differences and fight their battles on the …
A success story on sectarian crime?
In a report about advances in community policing it is claimed that it helped avert between 171 and 198 serious sectarian incidents in Larne DCU. Lee Reynolds
“…radical and interesting, but destined to fail”
Chris McGimpsey provides his negative assessment of the proposed Tory UUP link-up. He argues that while it suits cameron it offers little to the UUP and states: But I, and the many thousands of left-wing Unionists like me, need to be offered the option of voting both for the Union and for social justice. If that ceases to be an option, it may be time for some of us to look for a new political home. Lee Reynolds
Benefits of cross-community joking?
A University Of Ulster study argues for that banter in the workplace helps with cross-community relationships: “banter, which included references to one’s community background, was a potentially very useful communication practice in many organisations, in facilitating and easing relationships.” It calls for an end to no banter policies. Full report here (pdf file). Lee Reynolds
Republicanism’s RUC moment?
Peter Robinson has made his position crystal clear: “We still take the position that the structures must be removed completely. There is no purpose of having a structure if you do not intend to operate in a paramilitary fashion.” The Belfast Telegraph editorial agrees arguing: “The IRA needs to be definitive and decisive. Why? Consider the transformation of policing as an example. Disposing of the RUC’s name was largely a symbolic matter — a painful one for most unionists — …