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There appears to be a distinct moderation in both the tone and substance of Martin Smyth’s latest statement to the Newsletter this morning. Pointing out that he was one of the very first senior Unionists to publicly advocate early discussions with Sinn Fein, he went on to suggest that: …in the debate since 1998 all critics have been labelled as ‘hardliners’, ‘dissidents’ or ‘rebels’ by the media and others. The difference between being anti-Belfast Agreement, which most unionists are, and …

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Here we have re-produced most of the text of a speech by Nigel Dodds to be given this afternoon. In it he lays out his parties practical approach to the re-negotiation of any new Agreement. If follows the publication earlier this week of the party’s Towards a New Agreement paper. Speech given today by Nigel Dodds MP Unless unionists as well as nationalists endorse any political settlement it is doomed to failure. This is the political reality regardless of any …

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Gary McDonald, the business editor at the Irish News, reports (subs neededs) a five per cent decline in the profits of Diageo, the company which produces Guinness. There are expected to be a series of job losses in Dublin and Belfast. .. the company�s trading statement coincided with speculation that Guinness plans to virtually halve its brewing and kegging divisions in Dublin and Belfast through a voluntary severance scheme. Around 130 jobs are expected to be lost in the 270-strong …

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It looks like in its current state of absorption in its dual community relations, many have forgotten that Northern Ireland has some way to go before it can catch up with its English neighbours in creating the conditions for a prosperous multicultural society. 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. …

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Taking his lead perhaps from Roy Garland’s piece in the Irish News earlier this week, Maurice Hayes is almost sanguine about the future of politics in, as he reads the early differences in this summer compared to those of recent summers past. 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: …

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MP blogger Tom Watson has made the BBC with his unconventional Ali G style appeal to the yoof. Everyone, he claims, gets the irony except Guardian readers over thirty. 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

Martin McGuinness went to the heart of the British political establishment yesterday to issue a warning that if the elections are delayed beyond the first year’s anniversary of the suspension of the devolved institutions, the whole pro-Agreement project will be in serious trouble. The decision to postpone the elections by Tony Blair effectively disempowers the pro-Agreement parties, and it is absolutely vital and essential that the British prime minister recognises that these elections should take place in the autumn of …

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The ruling in yesterday’s High Court case may have drawn a definative line under any more inhouse action against the three rebels – for the summer at least! The suspensions were deemed improper on a number of important counts. Not least that the officers who imposed the suspension were not empowered by the party’s procedures to do so. The proposed hearing of the 17th July is also considered to be void,on the basis that it was to include two co-opted …

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The good news of the summer may be that the fire appears to be going out of the summer stand off at the Sunday parade from Drumcree church back down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. Although there was no agreement this year between the local Orange Lodge and local residents, the recent appointment of a mediator may produce more definative results in the future. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …

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Last week there was some disturbing news that some aspects of Northern Ireland society show even less tolerance than was previously suspected. Rosie Cowan reported on attacks against Africans in the loyalist Village area of Belfast. She spoke to Dr Uhomoibhi, a lecturer at Queens University, who pointed out that Africans break all the rules of group conformity in Northern Ireland: Africans here are not a homogeneous community. There are Catholics and Protestants, living in loyalist and nationalist areas, from …

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This conversation between pro-Agreement Esmond Birnie and anti-Agreement Jeffrey Donaldson, provides some limited insight into the power struggle within the UUP. 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

It seems that anti-Agreement Unionists are not the only ones who don’t think the IMB is able to do a job. Nationalist blogger Paul Dunne is convinced that the decision mechanism to be used will effectively close out any Irish voice on the body. 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 …

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It seems all the parties are lining up to front load the next six to twelve months with their own particular demands. The SDLP’s bid is to allow Northern Ireland’s elected representative to form an electoral college to, in turn, elect representatives to Seanad Éireann, the upper house of parliament in Dublin. 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 …

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The Republican Blanket web magazine has effectively been closed after the house of its editor was raided last Friday and all computers confiscated. The raid came on the tail of a public demonstration in support of a protest by dissident Republican prisoners, which were attended by two of the magazines key staff – Carrie Twomey and Anthony McIntyre. The trigger for the raids appears to have an impromptu invasion of the headquarters of the NI Prison Service. In McIntyre’s account …

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Oh dear. One day away from Slugger and the whole pro-Agreement Unionist project appears to fall into another crisis. Whilst pro-Agreement Unionists in Jeffrey Donaldson’s constituency called off their no confidence motion, the anti Agreement camp in Trimble’s Upper Bann go ahead, with up 30% expected to back the motion. It comes quickly on heels of a High Court decision which overruled the party officers’ suspension of Martin Smyth and Jeffrey Donaldson for persisent dissent from party policy. Mick FealtyMick …

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Sinn Fein in the run up to the first of the IRA’s ceasefires continually demanded that the British government champion a United Ireland. It was never likely to come to pass, but it usefully kept the opposition on the back foot. It seems the DUP have learned a thing or two themselves as their leader calls for the disbandment of Sinn Fein, not simply the IRA. Or was it, as some have speculated, a distancing marker between the traditional view …

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Brendan O’Neill has produced a short, pithy guide (reg or subs needed) to the best weblogs for the Sunday Times. He is fairly comprehensive on the big US players, whilst picking out some of pitfalls in considering the role blogs may play in future. Slugger gets a mention (reg or subs needed) as a provocative blog on Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

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Malachi O’Doherty has deserted the grey blue skies of Ulster for the calm azure of Rhodes, an island with a long history of relations with outsiders. He wonders if the competing cultures of Northern Ireland, which have recently been isolated from outside influence will prove as robust as the island Greeks. 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 …

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Blogging is likely to be slow today, which is a shame because there are a number of interesting things happening. The DUP are launching Towards a New Agreement at 10am. And later in the day we may hear the outcome of the Gang of Three’s application against the suspension of Smyth and Donaldson. In the meantime the Newshound has logged many of the big stories of the weekend. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

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Alex Kane argues that it is important to forget the imperative of Unionist unity and for all Unionists to choose which side they are on. Claims that the demise of pro Agreement Unionism is imminent he believes are overblown. By Alex Kane However tempting the prospect may appear, the next few months must not become a time for fence sitting, or scurrying into the political undergrowth. The Ulster Unionist Party is facing its greatest ever crisis and its members, be …

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