One of the two major issues to be discussed at the next UUC meeting is the proposed disbandment of the home battalions (formerly UDR) of the Royal Irish Regiment. Paul Murphy is to meet the British Defence secretary to clarify precisely what the current plans are. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the …
Maurice Hayes believes that the public debate within Ulster Unionism is clearly out of step with popular opinion on the ground. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
This week’s edition of the Shamrockshire Eagle is available. In particular is his article taking the poor mouth attitude adopted by some within the republican movement that he feels they may be playing with long term fire: …unfortunately they have created something more powerful than themselves. For discourse does not merely passively reflect reality; it also plays a role in shaping it. If Cassandra’s fate was to see a future which no-one believed, then the Provo’s fate is to create …
Former Culture Minister Michael McGimpsey berates Jeffrey Donaldson for holding the party to ransom after his threat to resign from the party if he loses the debate at the UUC on 16th June. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Arguably this is the piece that has sparked off the speculation over a possible split within the UUP, Alex Kane’s column from the Newsletter. In it he outlines a number of options that are open to the beleaguered head man of the party, David Trimble. Judgement Day by Alex Kane Albert Camus had good advice for all politicians facing difficult decisions; �Do not wait for Judgment Day. It happens every day.� In David Trimble�s case, Judgment Day comes in the …
There are several reports of Jeffrey Donaldson’s offer to resign from the party if he loses the upcoming vote in the UUC from the BBC and The Observer. William Graham speculates on the wisdom of arguing over the joint declaration. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Irish in Britain has some comment on the controversy around John McDonnell MP, who managed to make it as the first item in The Sun’s editorial on Friday for his recent remarks regarding the role of the IRA in the peace process. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: …
Brendan over at the Leptard has been in contemplation mode again. This time on the subject of billingual weblogs. For regular readers it may seem oddly familiar. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Apparently Jeffrey Donaldson told Mark Devenport on the BBC’s Inside Politics programme last night that he might leave the party were he to lose the UUC vote over the Joint declaration. However this may be more indicative of his confidence in winning the vote in Council than something he seriously believes will happen. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular …
Clearly the dissident wing of the UUP is preparing to make another move on the authority of its party leader at the next Council meeting. Ostensibly its purpose is to provide clarity: …in the party’s attitude to the joint declaration which offers much to republicans and nothing to unionists. They are not in the mood for another fudge. Rejecting the joint declaration is also the only way to safeguard the future of the Royal Irish Regiment. Leading party dissident David …
After years of effectively leading a party within a party Jeffrey Donaldson is finally preparing (subs needed) to publicly square up the current leadership. In proposing a challenge of the latest joint declaration at his party’s ruling Ulster Unionist Council, he is effectively challenging his leader to make a decision well in advance of the Autumn, when Trimble might have expected a substantive from the IRA. Much will depend on how Trimble himself responds. In the past he has taken …
As yesterday was the day the elections were to have taken place, Tony Blair faced fire from both sides as both Peter Robinson and Gerry Adams complained bitterly about the election that never was. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Blogging will be slow today. To keep up with today’s news across the board, head over to the ever excellent Newshound. Or any of the Irish bloggers in the links list – Frank McGahon being the latest on to join. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Peter Robinson talks to Billy Kennedy about his party’s forthcoming document Towards a New Agreement which outlines their critique of the Belfast Agreement rather than the DUP bottom line. We do not have a monopoly on this process but it is critical that there is a shared understanding of where the process has failed. ‘This document should be the spur for debate within unionism and further afield about how Northern Ireland moves forward. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. …
This may be evidence that post-Stakeknife Sinn Fein are beginning to take Unionists more seriously, or it could be an attempt by Gerry Adams to call leading dissident Unionist Jeffrey Donaldson’s bluff. But Gerry has asked (subs may be needed) Jeffrey to intervene in the Garvaghy Road/Drumcree controversy, following his remarks on Tuesday. There are no more than a dozen or so contentious Orange parades. Surely it is not outside the imagination of Orange and unionist leaders to envisage talking …
Brian Feeney is fulminating this week on the fact of the Unionist veto. He may be ahead of the curve, but clearly he believes that the momentum within Ulster Unionism is now firmly with the Donaldson camp – though he seems never to have held any mainstream Unionist in high regard. The prime motive for this group, he suggests, is to undermine the 1998 agreement come what may. They have foisted upon Unionism the unattainable criterion of IRA disbandment and …
With another UUC meeting expected soon to decide on whether to turn down or accept the two governments’ joint declaration, today’s Irish News contains a piece (subs needed) from Jude Collins, is a pertainent reminder of one of the bottom line responsibilities implied in the Belfast Agreement (or presumably in any subsequent agreement) – ie to make Northern Ireland work. He quotes directly from A Long Peace? to make the point that at some stage Northern Ireland needs to address …
The Republic’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowan has made it clear that he would like to see the Assembly elections take place in the Autumn. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
The DUP has just published a vision document outlining a series of amendments to the current Bill of Rights. Despite the nature of Nigel Dodds’ introductory remarks, the document itself is not simply a rehearsal of Unionist sectional interest in the Bill. Much of the criticism focuses on its functionality, implications for the current democratic institutions and its ability to attract significant cross community support. It also suggests that the bill unnecessarily exceeds its orginal remit, arguing that the European …
The major Unionist parties are united in welcoming a new a initiative to prevent any interface violence from taking off this summer. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
