This piece by William Graham in yesterday’s Irish News describes the current dilemma exercising a large swathe of the moderate political classes in Northern Ireland; which comes first disarmament or return to democracy. 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
Republican Sinn Fein have called for the implementation of the Steele report into the issue of intra prison violence, primarily between Loyalist and Republican prisoners. The report recommends the separation of the two blocs. 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
If anyone was in any doubt where the main struggle is going to take place and between whom, the DUP clearly intend to further signal their intent – election on no election. The first of series of public meetings throughout Northern Ireland aimed at highlighting the failings of the current Agreement is rumoured to begin in David Trimble’s backyard. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …
The BBC’s security correspondent must have the most thankless job in the corporation. Despite his unrivalled contact with senior figures within in the IRA, he remains uncertain as to the likelihood or otherswise of whether they will commit to a major act of disarmament this 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 …
Brian Feeney returns to a key theme of his general commentary; ie, the weakness of any Unionist position is that the final executive decision will always remain with the British government. He’s not impressed with the scale or substance of Trimble’s recent victory. 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. …
It’s been fairly quiet on Slugger today, partly because there’s been little of substance to report, and I’ve been busy working to a deadline, and therefore not had time to go looking for more interesting bits and pieces. Before I sign off though, here’s a couple of blog pieces worth looking at. Belfast Gonzo has a background piece on the Chilcott report, and this guy has an interesting defence of the Orange Order. It’s followed by a vigourous and lengthy …
There has been increasing speculation behind the scenes that a late October/November election might now be on the cards. Certainly there have been fairly relaxed calls in the last day or so from Sinn Fein for movement, and even though Mark Durkan believes the troubles in the UUP have some way to run, further parking of the process will do little to help Trimble’s pro-Agreement wing of that party. David Ford, leader of the Alliance party, yesterday expressed cautious optimism, …
Until fairly recently Martin McNeely acted as press secretary to the UUP leader David Trimble. Since then he has remained outside the ebb and flow of party politics, but the result of last Saturday’s UUC meeting has prompted him to offer his old boss some advice on going forward through Slugger O’Toole. And, he warns, the struggle for the hearts and minds of his party is far from over. By Martin McNeely In the immortal words of Mr Adams “Well …
Belfast Gonzo has an interesting piece, which hints at some tangible benefits that can be brought through devolved government, and suggests that former Bairbre de Bruin will be annoyed that the improvements in hospital waiting lists will not be publicly attributed to her often controversial efforts whilst in office. 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 …
DUP councillor and former Ireland rugby international Davy Tweed has raised objections to the degree of coverage given to Gaelic sports on the independent television channel that serves Northern Ireland and border counties in the Republic, UTV. 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 next big blog event in the UK is Gone to the Blogs organised by Spiked online. The main feature is likely to be the leftist commentator on social issues and Ireland Brendan O’Neill and the libertarian mover and shaker of Samizdata Perry de Havilland. It will also include James Crabtree, the bright, young, blogging intellectual behind Voxpolitics (he’s currently having a bit of a scrap with Demos over networks vs hierarchies). The political input is counterbalanced by the notsoyoung …
The DUP MP Gregory Campbell argues here on Slugger O’Toole, that the British government’s policy of putting off the day of elections has run its course. He believes a re-newed democrat mandate can presage a new deal that will allow all Unionists to finally sign up to a peaceful long term settlement. By Gregory Campbell MP The Ulster Unionist Council has now met yet again and decided as it has done in the past to back it’s leader by about …
The BBC have picked up a story on the fate of Downpatrick’s Orange Hall. Once a social hub of a small but vibrant Protestant community in the largely Catholic town, a local solicitor has bought the premise for re-development. 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
Even without local democracy the local economy seems to be feeling a slight thaw in the global economic climate, with a slight rise in outputs and new business for the month of July. 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
Rebecca Blood’s presentation to the Blog Talk conference in Vienna last May, is still bring Slugger traffic from other language blogs. The latest is a blog called Cuppen and appears to be written by a journalist in Stockholm. It seems to be mostly about online journalism, but I’m only guessing; although many of the story titles are in English, she blogs in mostly in Swedish. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …
Recently Slugger has been gathering comments from various political insiders. This often can bring a valuable counter-perspective to those of our general readers. It would be interesting, for instance, to hear the response of a PUP member to Chico’s hard hitting remarks regarding the party’s socialist credentials in this recent thread. Though in general, we’d like to hear more from all parties, whether through the comment boxes or by submitting more formal opinion pieces. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …
Now it’s Tuesday and some of the columnist’s views on the current situation in the UUP starts to flow in. Danny Morrison believes the root of the problem is Unionism’s difficulty in facing an assertive Nationalist community. 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
Roy Garland argues that although Trimble’s position within the Council, his true position on the ground amongst party activists is possibly as strong as 70%. On this basis he argues that the current battle is between exclusive and inclusive Unionism: The Union today can only be defended effectively from pluralist platforms. We are not living in the 19th century and there is little in common between the narrow tribal rivalry that underlies present dissension, and a Union based on pluralism …
David Trimble has had backing from a perhaps unexpected source. Martin McGuinness seems to have led the most overt public support of Trimble as leader of pro-Agreement Unionism for quite some time. 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
Eammon McCann provides a short socialist perspective of the role of Sean Russell during the war years, and hints at apparently unconscious contradictions within in Republican rhetoric. The Coca Cola reference relates to a recent contorversy over the donation of a former senior member of the company to Sinn Fein. 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 …
