Michael Shilliday Lagan Valley, being my home constituency, is probably the most important contest as far as I am concerned in the General Election campaign. Despite DUP claims that they will have a “five figure majority”, not only is Lagan Valley unpredictable given the defection of the incumbent, it is at this moment too close to call.Basil McCrea in his interview on A Tangled Web said that Jeffrey Donaldson needs a personal vote of 10,001 to win, and I agree with him …
I must admit I have only read 6 pages of the DUP Manifesto, however when I saw what appears to be an untruth, I stopped. In 2001 at the Westminster election the Democratic Unionist Party won more votes than the UUP in the constituencies both parties contested. South Down: Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 9,173 (17.6%) Jim Wells (DUP) 7,802 (15.0%) Upper Bann: David Trimble (UUP) 17,095 (33.5%) David Simpson (DUP) 15,037 (29.5%) Lagan Valley: Jeffrey Donaldson (UUP) 25,966 (56.5%) Seamus Close …
As well as the main Manifesto launch the Ulster Unionist Party also launched its mini manifesto on children yesterday. Every child deserves the best possible start in live. The most important influence in a child’s life is his or her parents and Ulster Unionists want to develop policies that support, not replace parents. Parents should be offered a choice of quality, flexible services for their children from the beginning. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read …
The UUP has this afternoon launched its very “bread and butter” election Manifesto. The reference to future devolution comes in the opening message: We proved that Sinn Fein were unfit for office. We put them to the test, stripped away all their excuses, and, in October 2002, put them out when they failed. We have concluded that, while republicans are prepared to offer more process, they do not want to give up their private army. Consequently, we do not intend …
I notice this press release on the DUPs website in which Peter Robinson (illustrated with an election poster of new friend J M Donaldson for some reason) uses some decidedly unparliamentary language. Just as well he didn’t say it in Parliament really, for as we all know, people get ordered to “withdraw immediately from the House” for saying such things there. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in …
David Vance has conducted his first election interview with the UUP Lagan Valley Candidate Basil McCrea on A Tangled Web.Basil’s comments regarding his chances in Lagan Valley are interesting: With regard to the numbers (rounded for simplification) there were 26,000 UUP voters at the last Westminster elections and only 6,000 DUP. In simple terms, (it is not worth long arguments, Alliance etc etc.) Mr. Donaldson needs a personal vote of 10,001 to win the seat. That is a challenge and …
Turns out, Belfast Sammy isn’t the only DUP triple mandate seeker to do so in different areas. Gregory Campbell is standing for Derry City Council, on the same day as asking the good people of East Londonderry to send him back to the green benches of Westminster.No Ulster Unionist has a triple mandate. Four DUPs have (Robinson x2, Dodds and Campbell), and by my count another 9 (Foster, Donaldson, Weir, Wilson, Buchanan, Berry, Hay, McCrea (Wm) and Wells) are seeking …
I posted a story yesterday on the Young Unionist Blog about Sammy Wilson’s decision to run for Belfast City Council on the same day as asking the voters of East Antrim to send him to Parliament. Comments have raised the issue of Alan McFarland and Dermot Nesbitt, however these are entirely incomparable as Sammy is standing for both seats on the same day. The debate has moved on to an issue which I have little knowledge of, that of alleged …
Page 15 of today’s Newsletter carries an adertisement by the Ulster Unionist Party which quotes about 200 words of Mitchell McLaughlin’s speech to the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in March. Sinn Fein said yes to the political package…because we were satisfied that we had defended the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement including its Power-Sharing All-Ireland and Equality provisions…We secured: The establishment of the All-Ireland consultative Civic Forum, The establishment of the All-Ireland Parliamentary Forum, A process of rolling and …
Basil McCrea launched his campaign to unseat Jeffrey Donaldson last week by unveiling the largest poster ever used in an election in Northern Ireland. The 20 foot long 96 sheet displays the message “Anything is possible when you…Think Big…And decent people make their votes count” With such uncertainty as to the lie of the electorate in Lagan Valley and the confidence of the McCrea campaign, anything is possible on polling day. Jeffrey’s first test as a DUP candidate will certainly …
