Turgon A few months ago The Watchman provided a pair of extremely interesting articles on Dr. Paisley and the DUP entitled “When the chuckling had to stop” and “The unbuckling of the Bible Belt”. They are well worth re-reading as they provide an excellent insight into anti agreement unionist thinking. Subsequently Fair_Deal produced what to my mind is the finest piece of unionist political analysis on this web site in his blog “Telling a new story.” It might be worth revisiting …
Robert Mugabe was sworn in at a ceremony on Sunday at which he promised talks with the opposition; talks which the MDC seem willing to participate in but sound less than optimistic about:“Mr Mugabe has a sweet tongue but sour actions,” Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for the MDC, told the BBC. “But when all is said and done, there has to be dialogue about a transitional period that would lead to a free and fair election. The politicians of this …
Those of you who did Chemistry will remember the Periodic Table. I was always fascinated by the actinides at the bottom which were highly unstable and decayed very rapidly: usually into less interesting things like lead. The political institutions of Northern Ireland have always had a significant degree of instability about them as well and a tendency to decay. Even at its height (or depth dependent on one’s analysis) the old Stormont was at times precarious. The new institutions are …
A quick update to the Rathlin ferry blog although to be honest Nevin’s blog is much the best place to go for all of these things. One of the vessels (the MV True Light) which Mr. O’Driscoll was due to use has failed a safety test whilst it is still not clear whether or not Mr. O’Driscoll will be able to use the current boat the MV Canna; his company is due to start the service on 1st July. Jim …
Nevin over at NALIL has been doing more digging into strange goings on in North Antrim. This time it is about the Rathlin ferry. He has raised this issue on slugger in the recent past but it has not gone away and seems if anything to be becoming more difficult..I remember going to Rathlin as a small child past the wreck of HMS Drake (on a similar theme to my previous blog). The boat was very small and it was …
There has been some discussion about Jutland recently and I have suggested I will do a blog on it so here goes. If it is not your thing just ignore it and I know it is too long and too detailed. One of the first problems with Jutland which divides most real historians (ie folk much cleverer than me) is who won. The history of who won is itself important. Initially both sides claimed victory: then the British largely came …
The BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys has this on her blog. Last Thursday Derek Wyatt Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey explained the constitutional history of the UK. It is here in Hansad but I will reproduce it below the fold. I have little doubt it will stir up some complaints from all sides.This debate has a simple theme. My constituents are living in a half-finished house that costs them money, and they are beginning to resent it. The …
The Observer has an interesting piece on the new biopic of Paisley. Seemingly there may not be enough money to fund the project. Gary Mitchell the screenwriter complains that it is difficult to get funding, as “Prods aren’t sexy enough” and also noted that there have been a number of films from Northern Ireland with a nationalist perspective, which have attracted some very famous actors. The script itself has been disowned by the Paisley family and yet also called too …
The MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of the Zimbabwe election stating that it cannot be free and fair. He said: “We in the MDC cannot ask them to cast their vote on 27 June, when that vote could cost them their lives.” “We have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process.” “We will not play the game of Mugabe” This move probably makes sense; it had become abundantly clear …
There are lots of anniversaries during this month. I keep meaning to mark that of Jutland but here I am going to mark the death of one of my personal heroes. My wife accuses me of being a Protestant St. Jude and being unhealthily interested in lost causes. The hero I want to highlight is, however, one of the greatest examples of that very British (maybe Irish as well) concept the heroic failure. George Mallory was the second child and …
The Real IRA or Continuity IRA seem to have claimed responsibility for the landmine which injured two police officers near Rosslea on Saturday. A local UUP councillor Harold Andrews has denounced the attack and said ?.this is extremely regrettable as no one wants to go back to the way things were 15 to 20 years ago. I thought these types of actions were a thing of the past and I’m sure a vast majority of people on both sides of …
A strange one this: Jim Allister has a comment on his web site about an interview with Sammy Wilson on Stormont Live last week. According to Jim Allister, Sammy has suggested that he would like to bring forward legislation enforcing mandatory co-option of a replacement councillor in the event of someone stepping down.Allister feels that this proposal is directed specifically at the TUV and it would of course be a rather cunning ploy by the DUP and might help prevent …
Farming is very much part of the culture of Northern Ireland. Most of us have some connection to someone involved in farming. There is often much hilarity at yokles and other mildly derogatory comments. I confess to a certain wry amusement when some of my assorted in laws all complain about the poverty that farmers face. Farming has, however, suffered a massive financial crisis which has now lasted for many years and has resulted in many having to have additional …
The President of the RoI Mary McAleese has visited Millburn Primary School in Coleraine. A crowd of between 30 and 50 jeered her and her husband. The headmaster of the school has reported that he has suffered intimidation over the visit.From the Newsletter: John Moffat of the local resident’s association said the community was showing its distaste at the President’s presence. “The school asked us for our opinions and we said we didn’t want to hear” “This is not only …
The long awaited Robinson reshuffle has arrived. Edwin Poots seems to be the main casualty being dropped as culture minister. As predicted Nigel Dodds has been promoted to finance minister, Arlene Foster moves to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Sammy Wilson becomes Enviroment minister. TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.
I know some object to my using literary and historical allusions but this is too good an opportunity to miss. Has what we have witnessed at Stormont been “Much Ado about Nothing” where my copy of the Complete Works of Shakespeare says “Comedy is tragedy averted.” In that play people conspire to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love and then there are twists and turns with another couple not getting married but it all ends happily. I would suggest, …
I am sorry if this is essentially a press release but I keep being asked what the TUV are doing in our possible mini crisis so here we go and the timing is remarkably good. The TUV had a central council meeting last night and elected party officers for the next year:President: William Ross Leader: Jim Allister Chairman: Ivor McConnell Vice-chairman: Keith Harbinson Secretary: Karen Boal Treasurer: Kenny Loughrin Press Officer: Sammy Morrison In terms of the possibility of an …
Despite the fact that the most important thing in the world is the possible crisis in our government I thought I might discuss something really, really irrelevant. There is a significant world wide crisis in food production and we are told the era of cheap food may be over. The UN has been having a summit on this subject. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has suggested that world food production will have to rise by 50% by 2030 and has …
Tom Hartley of Sinn Fein has been elected the new Lord Mayor of Belfast, replacing Jim Rodgers. The new deputy mayor David Browne of the UUP abstained rather than vote for the DUP’s Diane Dodds citing “personality reasons.” He also pointed out that since Hartley received two more votes than Diane Dodds, his voting for her would not have made any difference. Mrs. Dodds has accused him of “opportunism.” Unionist unity seems unlikely and even cooperation some way off. Incidentally …
At the end of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero turns to the audience and says “Now my charms are all o’erthrown And what strength I have’s mine own.” Now at the end, it seems, of his political career (I believe he is going next Thursday, though I here his farewell bash is tomorrow, so I had better hurry to get my ticket) Dr. Paisley is lauded at the Boyne along with Ahern. Paisley has received numerous accolades since agreeing to enter …
