Election 2005

Eammon McCann has entered the election race for the Westminster seat of Foyle, because “the campaign has been wearying, lacklustre, predictable and unproductive from the other parties”. The significance of his entrance is hard to gauge, since his 2,257 votes in the last Assembly elections transfered almost evenly between Sinn Fein and the SDLP. 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 …

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It’s been suggested to Slugger that Strangford could conceiveably be the scene of an electoral upset in this year’s Westminster election. The basis for UUP optimism seems to be placed on the energy and youthfulness of their candidate, Gareth McGimpsey, and (possibly) an underestimation of their opponent, Iris Robinson. The Irish Times had an interesting constituency report (subs only) on Saturday.Robinson’s parliamentary pitch looks good at first sight: Certainly she gives the impression of activity. She claims to have “questioned …

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David Vance has conducted his first election interview with the UUP Lagan Valley Candidate Basil McCrea on A Tangled Web.Basil’s comments regarding his chances in Lagan Valley are interesting: With regard to the numbers (rounded for simplification) there were 26,000 UUP voters at the last Westminster elections and only 6,000 DUP. In simple terms, (it is not worth long arguments, Alliance etc etc.) Mr. Donaldson needs a personal vote of 10,001 to win the seat. That is a challenge and …

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The Sunday Times identifies two clear messages that could reverse the SDLP’s long term decline: Sinn Fein politicians cannot be trusted and that the IRA can be forced to move under pressure.It’s based on this analysis: Alex Attwood, who is standing against Adams in West Belfast, says: “In February we had the IRA withdrawing its offer to decommission and warning that the situation was serious. Now, after two months of unremitting pressure, you have Adams asking them to make further …

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Robert Saulters, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has caused disquiet amongst Orangemen in Fermanagh, when he chose to publicly back Arlene Foster against a fellow Orangeman Tom Elliott MLA, the UUP’s candidate in Fermanagh South Tyrone. 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

Jude Collins argues that in Northern Ireland the election race is not a singular context, but that will take place in two almost hermetically sealed arenas. 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

Actor and social entrepreneur, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin casts his naionalist eye over the closest constituency fights. He reckons McLaughlin will just shade it in Derry and that the SDLP will go into some kind of meltdown. 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’s rare to find Malachi O’Doherty praising much about Sinn Fein, but on their strategy of targeting specific voter segments he reckons that the SDLP is not even at the game, as yet. The key to an SDLP rally (if not revival) is in targeting the very moderate voters that have stopped coming out to vote for them. He beleives that’s something Sinn Fein is achieving with greater alacrity than the SDLP: If most commentators are predicting that the Sinn …

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The police investigation into money-laundering allegations has resulted in the UUP deciding to postpone the launch of their election manifesto for 48 hours – David Trimble is still backing the UUP MLA, and local government candidate, Michael Copeland, whose home and offices were searched last week. They’ll be hoping for some more positive images in the media over the coming weeks. Pete Baker

Mark Devenport reports that the Irish government is not so tramelled by election protocol as its UK counterpart when it comes to taking sides in the local election race. But, he notes, in South Belfast, robust backing from Michael McDowell may not help Alisdair McDonnell win over the Sinn Fein votes he’ll need to come through the middle of an edgey contest between the UUP and the DUP. Gerry Adams argues that Ministerial backing is one step too far. Mick …

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Betfair is very quiet on the Northern Irish elections. Only five constituencies are even mentioned and at the moment there’s only been activity in two of those: East Antrim and Fermanagh/South Tyrone. Someone got in early and put money on Michelle Gildernew at the half decent odds of 6/4. It’s now gone down to 1/17. That’s partly because there’s no money going into any of the Northern Ireland races. In the past (in volume markets at least) Betfair’s been a …

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Excellent programme following Darcas Howe in a quest for an argument (sound file) that would make him abandon his lifelong abstentionism from the voting process. In the end he comes to Northern Ireland, believing it to be one of the few places where he might be pursuaded to vote. Local novelist gives it his best shot, but Howe is not obviously converted. So why should he change his mind? Tell us why, if we get a decent response, we’ll forward …

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Reading this RTE report you’d think they had got an exclusive – No IRA statement before election says Adams… not so guys. But, in fairness they tried, and some of the comments made by Gerry Adams in the This Week interview are more revealing than he might have wished. In particular, that the timing of his speech was “unfortunate”.. what with the Pope dying, and then the funeral, a British Royal Wedding and, of course, a General Election.. [distracting the …

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AFTER the UUP spent the past year trying to portray itself as more hard line than the DUP, today David Trimble described his party as ‘moderate’ and ‘centrist’. Perhaps Mr Trimble realised that his chances of holding his seat may depend upon attracting the voters his party usually has little time for. But what if those people think Trimble has had his chance – and blew it?Trimble told Breakfast with Frost: “I think it would be much better now to …

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AFTER Bono from U2’s revelation of a brush with the IRA, can it be too long before he joins the election trail here? He seems to be seen on as many political platforms than concert stages these days, so if I was in the SDLP and desperate and I ever wanted to call in a favour… would now not be the time? Of course, it’s likely Bono coulod be suffering from Vertigo around election time, and not make it here. …

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All has changed, changed utterly. Not so long ago it would have been Unionist political parties complaining about the Irish Government interfering in the politics of the north, and they still might.. but this time, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams is there first… leadership, eh? Update – a brief RTE report A spokesman for Mr Ahern has responded by saying that Mr Adams and what he called the Provisional leadership should have more serious issues to occupy their minds. Hmm… Pete …

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You’ll never guess who‘s coming to town. Process servers take note. Jimmy Sands

Turns out, Belfast Sammy isn’t the only DUP triple mandate seeker to do so in different areas. Gregory Campbell is standing for Derry City Council, on the same day as asking the good people of East Londonderry to send him back to the green benches of Westminster.No Ulster Unionist has a triple mandate. Four DUPs have (Robinson x2, Dodds and Campbell), and by my count another 9 (Foster, Donaldson, Weir, Wilson, Buchanan, Berry, Hay, McCrea (Wm) and Wells) are seeking …

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As the title of this article on the BBC election pages suggests, Councillors recycle party views, for some local councillors politics is all about repeating their party mantras.. honestly, it’s as if they’re channelling or something.. Is it voting day yet? Pete Baker

In the wake of David Burnside’s fulsome support of the activities of the ARA, the police raid their headquarters in pursuit of Jim Gray’s assets. Ouch! On the other hand at least it proves it’s not just Sinn Fein they’re after, after all! 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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