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Chris Thornton explores Sinn Fein’s current thinking in the aftermath of last weekend’s UUC meeting. In the subscription only Irish News, Brian Feeney puts the current situation more bluntly: “Concentrating on the scheduled collapse of the Stormont executive on January 18 has obscured the size of the swing in sentiment against power sharing in the UUP and as a consequence, the comprehensive nature of the victory of the UUP’s anti-agreement element on Saturday. It doesn’t really matter whether the executive …

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Bush to cut funding under the Civic Link programme in Northern Ireland? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Paddy Roche, who was recently excluded from the Assembly for remarks made about a fellow MLA, has announced he will be standing down for the next election. The fervent wish of a small but growing number of Trade Unionists is for the British Labour party to organise in NI. Trade Unionist, Andy McGivern travels to Blackpool at the weekend in hopes of a lifting of the party’s current ban. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other …

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Sinn Fein have condemned recent attacks on police recruits. Whilst not encouraging anyone to join the PSNI, Gerry Kelly told the Newlsletter that: “I am making it directly clear now that there should be no intimidation or threats against new recruits.” He went on: “People should not participate in a police force which falls short of the acceptable civic policing service which we all desire.” And then: “Joining or not joining the PSNI is a matter for the individual concerned.” …

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The latest crime figures were released a few days ago, giving rise to a number of headlines (see here and here) highlighting the sharp rise in the numbers of bombings and shootings and a proportionate drop in the number of people charged since the year the Belfast Agreement was signed. This may help to account for the accute discomfort felt by many people in province at the seemingly unending nature of the process, and its apparent lack of success in …

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Brian Rowan looks at some of the internal politics after the expulsion of Johnny Adair from the UDA. David Gordon asks ‘what happens next?’ The Scotsman reports: “…a demand was made for east Belfast, south Belfast and south-east Antrim UDA brigadiers to quit their posts. The Red Hand Defenders – a grouping believed to be a cover for the LVF and Adair’s unit – called on three commanders to resign or face ‘military action’.” It appears that the UDA are …

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Interesting revelation of a subset of Irish emigrants. Thanks to Smoke Signals for the link. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

On the subscription only Irish News site, Jude Collins publishes his list of 5 things he believes Unionism has gained from the Belfast Agreement: 1. Articles 2 and 3. Remember when we used to chafe at the Republic’s claim to the North in its constitution? It’s gone now. That’s nice. 2. The principle of consent. Remember when we used to rail at the way nationalists and republicans refused to accept that the majority of people in this state want to …

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Steven King rides a long and winding narrative here trying to explain just how complex a mix of interest the countryside lobby is in Northern Ireland. The truth is that this issue hasn’t much impacted the wider consciousness of people in NI, because the legal moves to outlaw foxhunting will not effect things there. But, as King argues, it may make it easier for such legislation to be extended to the North. For a wider argument on the subject try …

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It looks like the murky waters of Loyalist paramiltary organisations are beginning to move quickly. Fears are increasing of a new feud within loyalism, this time between the splinter organisation the LVF and the UDA. The expulsion of Johnny Adair, the leader of the West Belfast UDA, has led to: “A number of senior loyalists immediately left their homes for secret locations, believing that the move would inevitably lead to serious conflict on the streets of Belfast and elsewhere. The …

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The reconciliation business is not what it once was. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Natalie Solent described reading McIntyre’s article as like falling “…into an alternative universe.” And in the comments field here, David Steven suggests that the debate in Northern Ireland does not seem to got stuck in a negative game of saving face. Newton Emerson has kindly reproduced his article on Ulster Scots the comments field here. When the re-design comes, one day soon, we hope to provide a more fitting home for such pieces on Letter to Slugger O’Toole. If you …

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In the subscription based Irish News, Newton Emerson takes a swipe at some members of the Ulster Scots movement, but in the process comes up with a fresh definition of what his ‘Britishness’ means to him: “…I value my identity precisely because there’s no standard definition of what ‘British’ means. There’s a heritage and a history, but no obligation to regard any of it as positive. You note what your compatriots are doing, but you don’t have to like it. …

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Gerry Adams believes that the decision of the UUC at the weekend (see here) will encourage an increase in sectarian murders. Despite his party’s close ties with the Loyalist paramilitary organisation UVF, Billy McCaughey of the PUP insists that policing should be left to the PSNI. The release of the latest crime figures will not have bolstered the confidence of the same body: “Irwin Montgomery, of the Police Federation, blamed sectarian rioting and the terrorist threat. He said: ‘The amount …

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Dissident Republican Anthony McIntyre uses Chomsky to provide a lesson that should not be lost on every side of the conflict in Ulster: “If we propose some principle that is to be applied to antagonists, then we must agree – in fact, strenuously insist – that the principle apply to us as well.” McIntyre writes: “The unionists …are finding it all too easy to steal the moral high ground. It is cumbersome to argue against Trimble who manages to sound …

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Tá David Trimble i dtrioblóid. Ach ba mhaith leis go mbeadh Caitlicigh compordach i gComhairle Aontachtach Uladh. Agus i gcursaí teanga, “…tá rudaí athraithe sa chaoi is nach bhfuil blas Caitliceach ar na téacsleabhair níos mó, rud a gcuirim féin, mar Phrotastúnach, fáilte mhór roimhe”, dar le Ian Malcolm. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

After Mark Durkan and Gerry Adams met yesterday, both appealed for the British government to hold the line, and not suspend the political institutions if unionist ministers resign. This introduces the interesting scenario that all major posts in government could be run, by default, by the remaining ministers, ie those held by the SDLP, Sinn Fein, and possibly even the DUP, who have, as ever refused to reveal their political hand in public. The parties remaining in post may even …

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The repercussions of the UUC’s motion on Saturday, are beginning to hit through the Nationalist bloc. Gerry Adams and Mark Durkan are to hold talks “…aimed at reinforcing the primacy of the Good Friday Agreement.” One SDLP source said, “The Good Friday Agreement is not up for renegotiation. The policing reforms cannot be reversed.” It will be interesting to hear what the subject of those talks will be. It may be that the prospect of facing the ‘nuclear option’, ie …

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For those still vaguely aware of the outside world, the dossier against Iraq has just been published on the New Statesman site – apparently some of the UK government sites hosting it crashed earlier with all the extra traffic. They have also published (in actual fact, re-published) a companion ‘dossier’, with John Pilger leading the anti-US charge! Normal Slugger service will be resumed shortly. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

The danger of another Loyalist fued taking off, raises its head again. Johnny Adair was in court cheering on Andre Shoukri, after the latter was remanded in custody on gun charges. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.