Hmmm. Not sure what to say about this one. Michael McGimpsey was on the airwaves this afternoon decrying the DUP going to Dublin to talk to Big Business. On the day the DUP launched a new business policy paper it may not have been the most damaging line of attack. The frustration of the UUP is real, and based partly on what they see as the DUP picking a line they had previously mercilessly attacked UUP for taking. But this …
Gerry Adams is the centre piece of last night’s Hearts and Minds (pushed earlier in schedules last night by the snooker). Adams’ performance is calm and measured. There’s a bit of a ruffling when Noel asks about the Repubican Movement’s response to David Trimble’s we have jumped Mr Adams, now it’s your turn statement when he took his party into the institutions in anticipation of decommissioning. The section on the McCartney killing is very interesting. Interesting listening/watching. We look forward …
The UUP leader, David Trimble, has written to all the Portuguese voters in his Upper Bann constituency urging them to vote for the UUP in the local council elections. Is it the case that EU nationals are automatically eleigible for council elections but not Westminster? And what of non EU residents? KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company in the UK & Ireland. Christian, Orangeman, Unionist. Webmaster of Ulster-Scots Online. Occasional blogger on Slugger O’ Toole. Eurosceptic. @Kilsally www.ulster-scots.co.uk
More SDLP bashing. Conor Cruise O’Brien believes that there’s been a pact between Sinn Fein and the SDLP. He admits he has no evidence of such, but is urging nationalists not to vote for them, in order to send the party an uncompromising message for the future. 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, …
Not only is it under attack from Sinn Fein’s Jim Gibney, but the SDLP is also accused of threatening devolution by (wait for it), Peter Robinson! 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
Jim Gibney believes that the choice for nationalists is for the ‘peace process’ (Sinn Fein) or against it (SDLP). He also reminds us that polling day is the 24th anniversary of Bobby Sands’ death. 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
A broadside from the McCartney family, who say that claims made by Sinn Féin that it is in ‘daily contact’ are false: Michelle Gildernew who recently attended a women’s event told the audience that Sinn Féin are in ‘daily’ contact with the family and Deborah Devenny (East Belfast candidate) describes herself as having ‘good relations’ with the family. They (Sinn Féin) are not in daily contact with the family. We contacted them last week regarding the intimidation, but that has …
Jude Collins criticises the trail of senior representatives from the Republic coming in to back the SDLP. He believes the real reason for their sympathies is that parties political inertness, and inability to touch their political hinterlands in the Republic: The mistake in trying to follow the logic of southern government thinking is to focus on who they appear to be pro. The truth is, they’re not pro anybody, other than themselves. If you want to reconcile these three-different-directions-at-once stances, …
As Noel Whelan pointed out yesterday, the first past the post election system (something of an oddity in NI) means that most seats are effectively uncontested. In Mid Ulster, with Martin McGuinness almost certain to take more than half the votes cast, it seems more of an occasion to raise bread and butter issues, not least the impending crisis in farming. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …
Alasdair McDonnell believes that South Belfast will fall to the dark (green) side at the forthcoming General Election. The bookmakers recognise that this is a three-horse race. They also realise that unionism is deeply split and for the first time ever, a nationalist can take this seat. Alasdair knows the truth just as Michael McGimpsey does: Splitter Spratt is this election’s Jim Dixon. Michael will hold South Belfast. Any chance the SDLP had of South Belfast disappeared with their greener …
Lagan Valley, being my home constituency, is probably the most important contest as far as I am concerned in the General Election campaign. Despite DUP claims that they will have a “five figure majority”, not only is Lagan Valley unpredictable given the defection of the incumbent, it is at this moment too close to call.Basil McCrea in his interview on A Tangled Web said that Jeffrey Donaldson needs a personal vote of 10,001 to win, and I agree with him …
More events coming up than you can shake a fist at. These two are aimed at small businesses:Two Federation of Small Businesses General Election Question Time Events: Monday 25th April, 6pm, Rotunda Suite, Europa Hotel, Belfast Dr Alasdair McDonnell MLA SDLP Deputy Leader, candidate for South Belfast Sir Reg Empey MLA, UUP Deputy Leader, candidate for East Belfast John O Dowd MLA, Sinn Fein Health Spokesperson, candidate for Upper Bann Dr David Alderdice, Alliance Party, Candidate for North Down Peter …
I must admit I have only read 6 pages of the DUP Manifesto, however when I saw what appears to be an untruth, I stopped. In 2001 at the Westminster election the Democratic Unionist Party won more votes than the UUP in the constituencies both parties contested. South Down: Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) 9,173 (17.6%) Jim Wells (DUP) 7,802 (15.0%) Upper Bann: David Trimble (UUP) 17,095 (33.5%) David Simpson (DUP) 15,037 (29.5%) Lagan Valley: Jeffrey Donaldson (UUP) 25,966 (56.5%) Seamus Close …
As you may know, the use of the libel laws in NI politics has been a subject in which I have been taking an interest. I have been attempting to clarify the position in relation to some of the stories which may have slipped through the cracks. Many thanks to the SF press office and Alex Maskey MLA who have taken the time to update me on the McDonnell libel action: Writs has been served on A mc Donnell and …
Channel Four are doing some excellent work on the UK election. They don’t have big budgets, but their online efforts have impact. Not least the Factchecker site. This entry takes apart an electoral claim made by the Conservatives in Poole on the cost of assylum seekers locally. We can’t promise the same level of service, but if you have anything you’d like Slugger to check, send them in! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …
Noel Whelan on the predictablity of most of the Westminster seats. He reckons that Sinn Fein has got its campaign off to a dream start, with Gerry Adams’ appeal to the IRA: “Dangling the prospect of ultimate sustainable peace in front of the electorate the party is hoping a renewed and enlarged mandate will cleanse it of the hue of criminality with which it says it has been smeared in recent months”.But, somewhat wearily perhaps, he notes the general disengagement …
As well as the main Manifesto launch the Ulster Unionist Party also launched its mini manifesto on children yesterday. Every child deserves the best possible start in live. The most important influence in a child’s life is his or her parents and Ulster Unionists want to develop policies that support, not replace parents. Parents should be offered a choice of quality, flexible services for their children from the beginning. Michael ShillidayI used to write and get paid, now I read …
Interesting analysis of South Belfast from Noel MacAdam, which identifies about 1,700 votes which could move to Michael McGimpsey at the expense of the only previous pro-Agreement candidate, Alisdair McDonnell. 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
Another quiz. This one makes you sift through the issues at stake in the election in Britain. What adds a bit of bite is that it asks you to predict what way you think you would vote, and then confronts you with what you should vote based on your answers. I thought it might through up some interesting surprises! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …
SO there you have it. The SDLP says ‘no’. Never. To voluntary coalition, as proposed by the UUP, DUP and Alliance.Earlier this month, Robinson said: It is time to move on with those who are committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic politics in both word and deed. A mandatory inclusive executive, however formed, involving those who are criminal godfathers will never gain our support. Democrats should not be asked to tarry for those unable or unwilling to pursue entirely democratic …
