DUP – Page 38 – Slugger O'Toole

Kyle Paisley wouldn’t know who to vote for in Northern Ireland

David McCann on December 17, 2015, 11:47 am

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Interesting spot from the Nolan Show today who picked up an interview that the former DUP leader’s son, Kyle Paisley saying he wouldn’t know who to vote for if he lived in Northern Ireland. It should be said that did praise Arlene Foster as somebody with ability, but still the segment with Jon Tonge is worth a listen. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Simon Hamilton indicates that the Gay Blood Ban may be coming to an end

David McCann on December 12, 2015, 9:57 am

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A CHANGE IS GONNA COME: Interesting platform piece in the News Letter today by the Health Minister, Simon Hamilton who seems to be indicating that the DUP’s policy on banning gay people from donating blood could soon be coming to an end.

The Mechanics of the DUP Leadership

Soapbox on December 8, 2015, 7:09 pm

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INSIDE THE TENT: The cloak and dagger nature of the DUP’s latest episode of leadership change provides us an excuse to revisit Hugo Young’s wonderful description of how, prior to 1965, the British Conservative Party handled the tricky process of succession. Tory leaders were, Young observed, ‘removed and replaced by the informal alchemy of a charmed circle of elders’.

DUP Leadership Contest: Arlene’s Ascendancy

David McCann on December 7, 2015, 10:43 pm

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ARLENE’S ASCENDANCY: As we approach the end of the Robinson era, the runner (s) and riders are now coming to the fore. But before we talk about the candidate, just who can vote in the DUP leadership contest?

Belfast City Council vote to record Planning Committee meetings.

David McCann on December 2, 2015, 11:44 am

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OPEN GOVERNMENT? This issue has been a hotly debated topic since the new Belfast super council was elected in May 2014 and has come before council no less than three times.

However, last night the council voted by the slimmest of margins 28 for to 27 against to allow planning committee meetings to be recorded and made available to the public. The proposal was brought by the Alliance party.

DUP and UUP back Parliamentary Motion on Syria as SDLP oppose it.

David McCann on December 2, 2015, 11:02 am

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SYRIA: Both the DUP and UUP have now confirmed that they will be backing the Prime Minister’s motion on bombing Syria.

The Brexit debate: choosing sides?

Soapbox on December 1, 2015, 11:41 am

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IN OR OUT: Last week may have given something of an insight into the international economic outlook of our largest party.

Unite: “The recent deal between the parties ties the hands of the Northern Ireland Executive…”

Pete Baker on November 28, 2015, 5:32 pm

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Unite protests against Fresh Start: The Unite union holds protests against the ‘Fresh Start’ deal outside offices of the NI parties responsible – DUP and Sinn Féin.

The Tampon Tax and how to effect positive change

Soapbox on November 27, 2015, 7:30 am

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TAMPON TAX: Now, I am the last person to be jumping to the defence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. But I have found myself in the most uncomfortable position following Wednesday’s Spending Review.

Osborne takes aim at the Opposition Parties.

David McCann on November 25, 2015, 7:41 pm

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AUTUMN STATEMENT: You have seen the news with commentators and business journalists pouring over Tax Credit changes and cuts to the Bloc Grant, but one cut that really caught my eye was this little gem buried in the Autumn Statement on Page 76 which is benignly titled “Reducing the Cost of Politics”

Has the DUP taken their first public steps to back a Brexit?

David McCann on November 25, 2015, 12:29 pm

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IN OR OUT: Sammy Wilson issued an interesting press release today highlighting his attendance at Leave EU event and even had his picture taken with the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage.

Party faithful pay tribute to Robinson as he “steps back from front line politics & steps out of the limelight” #dup15

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 21, 2015, 7:04 pm

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There were few surprises during the Saturday sessions of the DUP conference. While the next party leader and First Minister were anointed with praise, neither Nigel Dodds or Arlene Foster were taking anything for granted and second guessing the inevitable view of the elected representatives who will shortly back their formal promotion to new roles. There was a sense of “less is more” about the agenda, with many loose cannons and critical friends “being seen but not heard”. Other than …

Hamilton seeks annual £200m health budget boost (4.25%). Funded by cuts or new taxes? #dup15

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 20, 2015, 9:55 pm

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HEALTH SPENDING increase proposed by minister Simon Hamilton at DUP’s conference. £1 billion over 5 years … with a challenge to other parties to support this intervention to deal with current pressures and challenges ahead.

Latest odds on the runners and riders for DUP leader and First Minister

David McCann on November 19, 2015, 5:24 pm

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WHO SUCCEEDS ROBINSON: Latest odds from Paddy Power are in for who will take over from Peter Robinson.

“Sinn Féin achieved a welfare system better than the one in Britain, by an average of £94m per year…” – Redux

Pete Baker on November 17, 2015, 8:32 pm

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Back in February 2015, this was Sinn Féin’s original line on the welfare cuts mitigation schemes agreed at the first Stormont Castle Agreement. …Sinn Féin from 2011 onwards opposed the proposed welfare cuts and insisted welfare protection was absolutely fundamental for all citizens. “That is why Sinn Féin politically campaigned against welfare cuts alongside trade unions and grassroots communities. “This principle guided our strategy during the Stormont House negotiations and why, in December last, when the other four Executive parties …

A Deal Today?

David McCann on November 17, 2015, 10:42 am

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This in from the BBC Political Editor, Mark Devenport hints that we may have a deal but not as comprehensive as some might like; Expectation that politicians may press ahead without resolving legacy issues and welfare cld be dealt with Westminster leg consent motion — Mark Devenport (@markdevenport) November 17, 2015 The SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood had this to say about a possible deal today The SDLP has a high standard for any outcome in this process. After so much …

Remembrance Day Ceremony at Stormont ends in disagreement.

David McCann on November 11, 2015, 5:05 pm

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A Remembrance Day ceremony was hosted by the Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin in the Great Hall of the Assembly today with representatives of all the main parties in attendance. All seemed to be going well until at the end some Unionists in the audience broke out into rendition of God Save The Queen at the end of the ceremony. What ensued was annoyance from Sinn Fein and defiance from the DUP. First up we had the DUP’s Peter Weir with this …

Martin McGuinness: “if the governments move as speedily as we have done, all of this could move very quickly”

Pete Baker on November 10, 2015, 10:46 pm

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After 9 weeks of behind-closed-doors talks, including an exclusive, super-sekrit, meeting in Downing Street with David Cameron, and a less sekrit meeting with Enda Kenny, the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers emerged blinking into the light today to inform the waiting press that… “The core of that agreement, the substance, has already been agreed in dialogue terms between Sinn Féin and the DUP,” [Peter Robinson] said. [added emphasis] So they haven’t put it in writing yet, never mind agreed it …

“The first and deputy first ministers held a private meeting with the prime minister in London..”

Pete Baker on November 7, 2015, 12:31 am

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Back to political reality, because some recent posts have been less than relevant. No names, no pack drill. ANYhoo… As the BBC reports, following the Northern Ireland Secretary of State’s declaration that, “I think it is possible that we could have a deal next week“, the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers, the DUP’s Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, met with the Prime Minister in Downing Street today on Friday 6 November. The BBC reports that There is …

“…but latterly Robinson has performed well enough in this regard”

Mick Fealty on November 6, 2015, 5:21 pm

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The northern Irish media have been camped for so long on Peter Robinson’s lawn that there will be very few people left when he eventually does retire from politics who cannot say they hadn’t predicted it already (and in some cases, long long ago). In yesterday’s Irish News Newton Emerson has written something of a valedictory (just in case he is actually going to go this time). It’s a fittingly unsentimental account for such a cold fish of a politician: …