Michael Shilliday The agenda item of celebrating successful women has just finished. David Campbell is now introducing the tribute to HM Armed Forces, which will be followed at 11:30 by speeches by Jim Nicholson and his election agent Tom Elliott. Then at 11:50 David Cameron, who is now upstairs doing interviews, will deliver his speech.Tom Elliott – If we don’t get out vote out we’ve only ourselves to blame Jim Nicholson is very well respected but that’s no use if we don’t …
I wont promise anything until I am in a position to, but I hope to be doing some live blogging from the UUP Conference tomorrow. The agenda has been published online. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
The BBC are reporting a funding cut for the HET. Interesting is the attributed comment of one of the Victims Commissioners: The Commission for Victims and Survivors challenged the government to prove its commitment to dealing with the past. “We hear weekly from people who have become deeply frustrated at the length of time HET takes to complete its investigations. This news will only make it worse,” said Commissioner Mike Nesbitt. How many of his three colleagues agree with him? …
Yesterday David Shiels provided an interesting historical analysis of the UUP’s relationship with the Conservative Party in the Belfast Telegraph. Tonight, no link as yet, David Cameron ahead of his speech at party conference on Saturday, outlines in the paper his commitment to Northern Ireland as an integral region of the UK. If, as a party, we form the next Government of the United Kingdom, local Conservative and Unionist MPs will take their rightful places on the Government benches and, …
Malachi O’Doherty has an interesting analysis of the Maria Gartland/McGuire affair. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
The First and Deputy First Ministers have suggested that having to appear before the Assembly to answer questions is too much, and that once a month would be better (in contrast to every other First and Prime Minister in the UK). Although, during this assembly, the FM and DFM have been taking it time about, so they would, one assumes, now each answer questions only once every two months. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read …
Sir Hugh Orde has confirmed that he has applied for the biggest job in UK policing. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
This morning Kieran McCarthy was on Nolan to complain about how useless the Executive is. He mentioned how they were doing nothing on home repossessions, so Nolan pushed him on what he would have them do. He said the Alliance would have the state pay for mortgages to prevent repossessions. Asked at least twice if this was Alliance policy, the answer was “yes”, despite being unable to say how much this would cost. At the end of the show, an …
Has anyone actually read this monstrosity? Below are some annotated highlights. (Also worth noting is Conall’s noting of it. I didn’t notice until I opened the URL for linking that the comments are fairly amusing) Personally, I’d say that in the parallel universe this was passed, Royal Assent would be given at least a second thought. What is clear, is that this was not drafted by professional legislative draftsmen at the Assembly, but by SDLP backwoodsmen who haven’t even properly …
Bob has the details of where Gordon Brown’s true confidantes are. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
Tory blogger Tom Roll-Pickering has his own view on who should stand where at the next general election. At the end of the day any party has the right to stand wherever it likes (and can get nominated) and equally has the right to not stand. Seats belong to one, and only one, group of people – the voters of those seats. By all means parties can choose where to deploy candidates, but a party that aspires to offer all …
O’Neill highlights that today is the 21st anniversary of the Enniskillen Bomb. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
Bob has thoughts on the advice to troubled lands from Ian Paisley Jnr and the priorities of our Ministers: And while it’s perfectly legitimate for OFMDFM to plan a meeting with Paddy Ashdown to discuss ‘initial response to the interim consultative report by the Strategic Review of the Parades Commission’, how on earth can there be no executive and not even a bilateral with the DETI Minister on the trifling matter of the global meltdown? Michael ShillidayI used to write …
In October and November 2007 Michael McGimpsey rejected the draft budget as it squeezed the Health allocation. In January 2008 his demands for a greater allocation to Health were finally accepted by the DUP Finance Minister after some unpleasantness. Following Michael’s recent decision, the DUP call this “sound financial planning” on their part. In March 2007 the UUP had the abolition of prescription charges as a manifesto commitment, and had it included in the programme for government in January 2008. …
Michael McGimpsey has moved to implement a manifesto commitment (PDF, pg 8) to scrap prescription charges. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
The UUP has responded to Ignited’s questions ahead of the Fermanagh by-election. When asked to justify the calling of a by election, the extended term of the council until 2011 was cited. Prominent in the answers was the proposed single council district for Fermanagh and Omagh. Our own position has been that Arlene will continue to have a conflict of interests in her roles as both Minister and Councillor. How, for example, can she oppose the Omagh-Fermanagh merger when she, …
I didn’t hear until last night that Canada is also to have an election this year, this despite recent legislation fixing the terms of Canadian Parliaments introduced by the incumbent Conservative Government. Brian Crowe has a much fuller exploration of the issues for those who are interested. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP staffer, currently living in London. @mjshilliday
Last Friday, the News letter front page was taken up with UUP MLA Basil McCrea’s suggestion that the IFA should consider developing a unique Northern Ireland anthem at international games. The DUP, predictably, came out shooting from the hip. The problem with their reaction, is that it was typically arrogant, assuming that as the DUP have a view on a matter, that must surely be the view of all right thinking Protestants of Ulster. They’re the all consuming DUP after …
As Mick pointed out, I did an interview with Radio 4’s iPM earlier in the week, in which they were interested to draw out some discussion around this post I did more than 18 months ago. It was broadcast earlier this evening and you can listen to it here. Interesting to me is the very unsatisfactory response from the Chief Executive of the BOA, who thinks that changing the name from Team GB to Team UK would be pointless, as …
The Newsletter seem to be the first of the local print media to do a political blog. O’Neill highlights that it didn’t get off to the best of starts! For those of you who, like me, use a feed reader rather than visit the site, the Newsletter page doesn’t seem to readily support one, but Google Reader picks up the feed from the Wordpress site. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read and don’t. Former UUP …
