DUP – Page 27 – Slugger O'Toole

Does the Tory manifesto contain bits of hope for the DUP?

David McCann on May 21, 2017, 7:23 pm

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As the current polls are pointing to the Conservatives being returned to office with an enhanced majority and the DUP’s influence is likely to evaporate. However, reading the Conservative Manifesto I wondered whether some of this might be premature as I focused on the Northern Ireland section. Here is where I must put the health warning that proof will be in the eating. But I have highlighted some key passages from the manifesto. Let’s start off with Devolution as the …

DUP needs to watch its advocacy of what’s becoming its own minority enthusiasms

Mick Fealty on May 19, 2017, 10:01 am

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It’s been a rough week for Arlene and the DUP. Newton Emerson is clearly losing patience with the DUP leader’s impetuosity… After his career almost imploded in 2010, Robinson displayed convincing signs of humility and reflection, at least for a while. Foster has met a few Gaelgoiri but she is still triangulating her position to imply she has not moved an inch. It is clear she feels herself to be the victim of a cunning republican plot – and that …

Where is her cunning?

Daithi McKay on May 19, 2017, 6:56 am

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In the last few months Arlene Foster has developed a habit of surprising us when we least expect it. And now that ‘blonde-gate’, or whatever you want to call ‘that’ interview on the greens of Hillsborough, is fading from the corporate media memory its worth a little further analysis. In response the DUP deployed the usual suspects to shout down the reaction to the former First Minster’s interview with Niamh Horan. Sammy Wilson said that “Michelle O’Neill is blonde, unless …

From Good Friday to Lá Dearg – the journey towards rights for Irish speakers

Soapbox on May 15, 2017, 9:52 pm

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Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin is an Irish Language Activist and is writing this in a personal capacity On the 20th of May thousands will make their way to Belfast to support the increasing calls for legislative protection for the Irish language, in the form of an Irish language act. Those attending, like the Irish language community itself, come from different backgrounds and have different views on many important issues, but on the issue of the role of the state regarding …

Foster’s ‘blonde’ comment: only one piece of a bigger picture of sexism within DUP?

Soapbox on May 15, 2017, 6:30 am

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Instances of sexist remarks by DUP politicians are too frequent to be put down to an occasional badly worded comment. It is the job of a politician to say what they mean and there can be little room for ambiguity when it comes to an issue as important as a basic respect for women.

“So let nobody speak of a progressive or anti-Brexit pact either…”

Pete Baker on May 14, 2017, 6:38 pm

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In Saturday’s Irish News, Newton Emerson with some impertinent points about electoral pacts in the forthcoming General Election on June 8. From the Irish News Sinn Féin has ordered the SDLP to stand down, although sadly not to dump arms, in North Belfast and Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Let nobody call this a nationalist pact, as that would involve reciprocation and Sinn Féin has not offered to stand down anywhere. Sinn Féin’s stance is doubly impressive when it risks handing …

Fake News and False Balance undermine Victims’ Human Rights

Patricia MacBride on May 12, 2017, 6:21 pm

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Last weekend was the second anniversary of the rightsinfo.org website. To mark the event, a panel discussion took place during which the site’s founder Adam Wagner stated that “fake news was old news in human rights” and that people “have been convinced by newspapers for years and years that human rights are a villain.” He was joined at the panel discussion by Buzzfeed Special Correspondent James Ball who said “The bigger problem is…essentially the much wider ecosystem of material which …

Candidates for #GE2017

David McCann on May 10, 2017, 8:35 pm

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Alliance Party (18 candidates) East Antrim – Stewart Dickson East Belfast – Naomi Long East Londonderry – Chris McCaw Fermanagh and South Tyrone – Noreen Campbell Foyle – John Doherty Lagan Valley – Aaron McIntyre Mid Ulster – Fay Watson Newry and Armagh – Jackie Coade North Antrim – Patricia O’Lynn North Belfast – Sam Nelson North Down – Andrew Muir South Antrim – Neil Kelly South Belfast – Paula Bradshaw South Down – Andrew McMurray Strangford – Kellie Armstrong …

Are the DUP sounding “generous and smart” or have they just lost their mojo?

Brian Walker on May 9, 2017, 1:15 pm

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Mick has just credited Arlene Foster and the DUP with making moves toward nationalists which Sinn Fein is struggling to answer. I see very little that the DUP have done yet that needs an answer. It is not news that the DUP don’t want a hard border or that there is a case for some sort of Irish Language Act, totemic as it is, particularly when your own contemptuous rejection whipped up demand for it. How to answer SF effectively …

DUP and UUP fail to agree formal pact

David McCann on May 8, 2017, 7:58 am

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From the BBC’S Mark Devenport; DUP leader Arlene Foster and UUP leader Robin Swann said they would continue to discuss better unionist co-operation beyond the election. But they could not agree on an overall pact, despite the parties already deciding against splitting the unionist vote in some key constituencies. The report continues quoting both leaders; “Both of our parties want to see the strongest possible vote for pro-union candidates standing in all of the 18 constituencies across Northern Ireland,” they …

Orange Order; We believe it is in Northern Ireland’s vital interests for as many Unionist MPs as possible be returned to our mother Parliament

David McCann on April 27, 2017, 11:53 am

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The Orange Order has issue a statement today urging the Unionist parties to show “unity of purpose” The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland recognises the critical importance and huge significance of the forthcoming General Election. As the United Kingdom commences the process of exiting the European Union it is essential a purposeful and stable Government is elected to act on behalf of, and deliver the best possible deal, for its citizens. Equally, it is of the utmost importance that Northern …

Arlene Foster begins discussions with Irish Language Groups

David McCann on April 26, 2017, 11:15 pm

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Arlene Foster began the DUP’s outreach to sections of the Irish Language speaking community today by visiting Our Lady’s, Newry to meet with pupils and staff about the language. From a BBC report; But speaking during her visit to the school, Mrs Foster said she was on a “journey” when it came to the Irish language and people have “nothing to fear from engaging with another culture”. Her visit had been an opportunity to “sit back and listen”, she said, …

The Pro-Remain Coalition failing with have consequences on June 8th.

David McCann on April 26, 2017, 12:35 pm

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The short lived attempt to build a Pro-Remain coalition of sorts has now ended with the Greens pulling the plug and the failure of the other parties to agree on independent candidates. Alliance who were out of the traps early opposing the pact delivered an unusually strong criticism towards the Green Party over even entertaining such a prospect. Initial Thoughts I was a supporter of some arrangement that brought together Pro-Remain forces in some shape or form. This would have …

The saving grace of electoral pacts is that they’re short lived. There’s a longer and bigger game to play afterwards

Brian Walker on April 25, 2017, 12:38 pm

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One sign of changed times is leading commentators such as Alex Kane Tom Kelly and Newton Emerson ranging across newspapers that not so long ago would have stuck to simple uncomplicated messages for well understood and stable readerships. Times have indeed changed for us all. From my remote position in London however, Alex and Tom are making very heavy weather of the issue of electoral pacts on both sides of the divide. They’re doing so for the best of reasons, …

Without an anti Brexit pact United Unionism will win this election

Daithi McKay on April 23, 2017, 9:38 am

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The move towards a DUP-UUP pact for the Westminster has already begun and, depending on how far the two parties are willing to go and the absence of any other pacts this could be a good election for unionism in terms of the total number of MPs returned. A successful unionist pact could deliver as many as 11 out of the 18 seats, their best joint return in 20 years. It could also see the return of 3 Unionist MPs …

UUP stand aside in N.Belfast clearing the way for further talks with the DUP

David McCann on April 22, 2017, 1:16 pm

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The UUP have confirmed they will stand aside in North Belfast, as well as West Belfast and Foyle. This effectively clears the way for the DUP Deputy Leader, Nigel Dodds to keep the seat, if the other parties don’t come to some sort of arrangement. Speaking about the election the party leader, Robin Swann said; “The General Election has been called and we have moved quickly to put Ulster Unionist Party candidates in the strongest possible position in advance of …

The Way Forward for Cooperation between Pro-Remain Parties?

David McCann on April 20, 2017, 3:08 pm

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This could be a watershed election, in the local context it could be the most important at a Westminster level since 1918. Northern Ireland holds just 18 out of 650 MPs and even in a hung parliament environment it can be difficult to get gain traction. What we lack in voting power, we have a potential to make up for in a strong signal being sent by the wider electorate. The dynamics of the race here are actually relatively simple, …

Out of respect to the voters, the governments and parties must spell out in detail where they stand on the Assembly by next week. Otherwise the election is an insult to democracy.

Brian Walker on April 20, 2017, 11:04 am

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Although only one of 13 MPs to deny Theresa May the green light for calling a Westminster general election, Mark Durkan MP surely got it right for Northern Ireland. I was not asking for an election last week or the week before; I was arguing that any move to an election in the near future would not help the negotiations in Northern Ireland. My mind has not changed, so why should I pretend that it has? Of course, this …

Eastwood “We’re open to any discussion about how we can protect the remain vote in Northern Ireland”

David McCann on April 19, 2017, 4:48 pm

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Chris had an excellent post up today about the possibility of having a Pro Remain Alliance for the upcoming election. At Stormont today, the SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood had some very interesting comments which are worth noting We don’t do sectarian pacts between two parties to keep out one community. We’re open to any discussion about how we can protect the remain vote in Northern Ireland, about how we can fight against the anti-Europe MPs and how we can protect …

I firmly believe that an Irish language act can be in the vanguard of progress.

Soapbox on April 19, 2017, 2:34 pm

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Linda Ervine is an Irish Language Development Officer at the East Belfast Mission Arlene Foster’s decision to engage with Irish language groups could have positive outcomes for both the DUP and the Irish language sector. As the largest elected party within Northern Ireland the DUP is a major policy maker. In my opinion, it can only be beneficial for the party to acquire a greater knowledge of a sector on which its decisions have so immediate an impact. I am …