DUP. UUP

Nesbitt says he will transfer to the SDLP

David McCann on February 12, 2017, 8:11 pm

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The UUP Leader, Mike Nesbitt was being interviewed today on The Sunday Politics , where he told Mark Carruthers; In terms of preferences, I’m saying vote Ulster Unionist and then vote for any candidate that you trust will deliver for your community, for your constituency and for this country. He then went on to say; I will be transferring from my Ulster Unionist votes to the SDLP. He did make it clear that he was only speaking for himself and …

Sticking to the facts on Europe?

Paul Hagan on March 1, 2016, 10:52 pm

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“On-balance” to use the first Minister’s language, the DUP’s call to vote to leave the EU is likely to be largely cost-free for her party. The vote which is now set for 23 June will come just seven weeks after the Stormont Assembly elections, will mark the end of a three year cycle of elections; local Councils, Westminster and the Assembly. The EU ballot may well therefore strike voters as an epilogue or afterthought to a 3 act play, rather …

UUP leaving the executive: anti agreement unionism for slow learners

Turgon on August 28, 2015, 5:58 pm

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So the UUP have finally done something exciting and left the Executive (or at least will once their own party executive rubber stamps the decision). The internal unionist politics of this: both why it was a politically good idea and the potential ramifications are significant and worth a separate blog (which I may get to at some point). For the meantime, however, looking from a pan unionist point of view why this matters is also important. There have always been …

The message for unionists: pacts work

Turgon on May 8, 2015, 11:41 am

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One of the critical points in this election for unionists was in March 2013. That was when Martin McGuinness stood down as MP and in the ensuing election Francie Molloy was elected. Nigel Lutton (whose father Frederick had been murdered by the IRA and Molloy connected with that murder in the House of Commons by the DUP’s David Simpson) stood as a united unionist candidate. That resulted in a modest increase in the unionist vote which Mike Nesbitt claimed as …

Unionist Pact still possible

Turgon on February 14, 2015, 7:22 pm

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The saga of whether or not there will be a unionist pact continues with Mike Nesbitt suggesting that he may still be open to an agreement. He stated: “Without a deal, without an understanding there is a real prospect there could be no unionist representing the capital city of Northern Ireland in Westminster on the 8th May,” he said. “With a deal, who knows? Maybe three of the four could be unionist but they can’t all be DUP.” The seats …

UUP-Has Northern Ireland’s ‘grand old party’ finally past its sell by date?

David McCann on September 14, 2013, 7:49 pm

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Last week I did an analysis of the decline in the SDLP’s electoral support since 1998. In the piece, I questioned whether the party had a future if it continued losing voters. A lot of these same problems affect the Ulster Unionist Party. This party which founded the Northern Ireland state had led every single government that the province had until 2007. Indeed, it is hard to the think that Ian Paisley was the first leader of our provincial administration who did …

The Covenant had its day. A new one is needed

Brian Walker on September 29, 2012, 3:13 pm

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It’s salutary to see the scanty outside news coverage in advance of the Ulster Covenant anniversary focusing on a few hundred metres of territory around Carlisle Circus. The heritage of unionism seems reduced to rioting and bigotry. Many will agree, however unfairly. For the most part it’s about just another day of tricky parades management that provokes the uncomprehending, exasperated response from outsiders: “ But we thought that was all over.” I don’t myself accept all of Robin Wilson’s too- negative reading of the …

Unionist Pacts: yet again

Turgon on March 21, 2011, 12:59 pm

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There have long been discussions and suggestions regarding the possibility of a unionist pact: the suggestion seems to be as old as the splits within unionism. Indeed although some “liberal” or “progressive” unionists deride the idea, the reality is that the suggestion has very significant popularity throughout the unionist electorate. In the past I have suggested that unionist civility rather than unionist unity would be a good idea. Now, however, there seems to be the possibility of the opposite: unionist …

Fred Cobain on the UUP / Tory link

Turgon on November 5, 2010, 4:20 pm

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Sam McBride, the political editor of the News Letter has an interesting article covering an interview with UUP Chief Whip Fred Cobain. Cobain is a trade unionist and a former member of the NI Labour Party which might sort of make him a civic unionist of a generation or more ago. In his interview, however, he suggests that the UUP should break the link with the Conservative Party unless they help change the St Andrew’s legislation to ensure that the …

Sunday polls: Conservatives nose ahead in a volatile race

Mick Fealty on April 25, 2010, 10:20 am

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Still not brilliant news in Sunday’s polls for the Tories, but I would rather be in their shoes than Labour’s today: no momentum and the campaign (substance vs, erm, ‘the damned Tories’) is slowly disintegrating. Things are still holding up pretty well for the Lib Dems. And after last week’s wobble (as Clegg came into the frame) Cameron’s ratings seem to be heading north again. If I were a Labour hack, one thing (amongst many) to worry about is not the polls …