Interesting line taken by North Belfast DUP MLA, Nelson McCausland. He claims that the insertion of the term Irish into what had been the British Lions was political correctness run amok. Thanks to reader Neal for the heads up! 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
Parties and individuals have until Tuesday to get their Westminster nominations in. It looks like independent Kieran Deeney is up for a scrap with Sinn Fein MP Pat Doherty in West Tyrone. Having apparently unsuccessfully asked the SDLP to stand down in his favour, he’s asking the Unionist parties to back him too! 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 …
Interesting that James Cooper directs his response to criticism over his party’s ‘decent people’ campaign to the DUP, and ignores Seamus Close’s attack from yesterday:From James Cooper: The intention behind the slogan is to rally ‘decent people’ to the Ulster Unionist Party: in other words, it recognises that there are decent people throughout the community, voting for a variety of parties. Our Party is seeking to reach those who have voted DUP, Alliance or who haven’t voted, as well as …
Don’t forget Hearts and Minds tonight! The DUP Deputy Leader, Peter Robinson is in the hot seat. Political Editor Mark Devenport has the latest news from the campaigns “and we also hear from the challengers from the Workers’ Party; the Conservatives and the Vote for Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket. Paddy Lynn, Julian Robertson and Lynda Gilby get the chance to state their case to the voters”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …
I posted a story yesterday on the Young Unionist Blog about Sammy Wilson’s decision to run for Belfast City Council on the same day as asking the voters of East Antrim to send him to Parliament. Comments have raised the issue of Alan McFarland and Dermot Nesbitt, however these are entirely incomparable as Sammy is standing for both seats on the same day. The debate has moved on to an issue which I have little knowledge of, that of alleged …
THE Deeny saga continues. After an SDLP councillor backed the independent Assembly member yesterday for the West Tyrone seat, today an email from Dr Deeny emerges in which he held out the prospect of joining the party in the future – which he now appears to have ruled out.The Carrickmore GP denied it represented an offer to join, saying: “I would be inclined towards any party which is cross-community and social democrat in its principles. Unfortunately the SDLP is not …
Page 15 of today’s Newsletter carries an adertisement by the Ulster Unionist Party which quotes about 200 words of Mitchell McLaughlin’s speech to the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in March. Sinn Fein said yes to the political package…because we were satisfied that we had defended the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement including its Power-Sharing All-Ireland and Equality provisions…We secured: The establishment of the All-Ireland consultative Civic Forum, The establishment of the All-Ireland Parliamentary Forum, A process of rolling and …
The ever-excellent Newshound had Brian Feeney’s assessment of the forthcoming election,Few constituencies changing hands. He makes an interesting comparison as to how Mark Durcan and Eddie McGrady have courted the unionist community, a group who could have a major say in the battle between Sinn Féin and the SDLP on May 5 in the respective constituencies. He finishes with seven, possibly eight nationalist MPs. Ambrose Uprichard
The Press Association have an interview with David Simpson the DUP man who is hoping to unseat David Trimble, leader of the UUP and certainly one of the key personalities that the shaped post ceasefire Belfast Agreement. Trimble is defending a narrow majority of only 2,058 votes. If the DUP fail to take his seat, then they may well struggle to take much anywhere else. However, for the moment, that possibility seems far from Simpson’s mind. Mick FealtyMick is founding …
Nominations for candidates are being taken for Northern Ireland’s 18 Westminster seats from today onward. If you hear of any unexpected, or unusual nominations, send us your tips! 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
Two cheques arrived in the post this morning. One was an airmailed donation from Hungary, and the other a contribution from our first public corporate sponsor, the Stakeholder Group, a communications company specialising in a range of PR, Events and Public Affairs services, and with offices in Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and London. These two contributions take us very close to our initial target of blogging a week of the election campaign. But further donations will help us cover more! Mick …
Considering the cordial relationship between Jeffrey Donaldson and Lord Molyneaux, and the latter’s ambivalent attitude towards his successor at the head of the Ulster Unionist Party, few will be surprised at his turning up in a DUP campaign photograph. But Martin Smyth’s presence in the political first timer Jimmy Spratt is by far the most damaging. It brings to the fore again the possibility that if the Unionist vote is evenly split, that the SDLP could square their likely loss …
Basil McCrea launched his campaign to unseat Jeffrey Donaldson last week by unveiling the largest poster ever used in an election in Northern Ireland. The 20 foot long 96 sheet displays the message “Anything is possible when you…Think Big…And decent people make their votes count” With such uncertainty as to the lie of the electorate in Lagan Valley and the confidence of the McCrea campaign, anything is possible on polling day. Jeffrey’s first test as a DUP candidate will certainly …
The Belfast Telegraph believes the UUP is facing a fight over its political future, suggesting that the DUP candidate’s coup might help create a split deep enough in the unionist vote in South Belfast to let the SDLP’s deputy leader, Alisdair McDonnell in through the middle. Hmm, of course the SDLP is facing its own problems getting the message out. Although one previously jaded insider told Slugger yesterday that the reaction to his party on the doorsteps was more positive …
Chris Thornton looks at North Belfast, which with a rapidly rising Catholic population has the look of a future upset on it. But, he argues, boundary changes are likely to put it out of nationalist reach, and this sometime Unionist marginal looks set to become a DUP safe seat for the foreseable 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 …
I got the distinct impression from the Seven Days programme on Sunday that Tony Blair is distinctly unpopular right across the political board in Northern Ireland. In which case you might enjoy this site that reader Alan’s 9 year old dug up. For more serious Labourite opposition: backingblair.co.uk! 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 …
Former UUP MLA Jean Coulter has endorsed the DUP`s South Belfast candidate Jimmy Spratt. Husband and wife UUP councillors, Ernie and Mary Hamilton, in Londonderry have indicated they are supporting Jeffrey Donaldson in Lagan Valley whilst also voicing their support for the actions of Lord Molyneaux and the Rev. Martin Smyth.The News Letter quotes the couple as saying: “We are fully behind Jeffrey Donaldson and wish him well in the election. He, along with his colleagues, stand for traditional unionist …
Looks like Sylvia Hermon‘s got a fight on her hands. Bob McCartney is standing down in favour of the DUP. Hermon could still win it, if she can squeeze the Alliance and take the Women’s Coalition and large chunk of the small Catholic vote in North Down. Her opponent will be local DUP MLA Peter Weir. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …
Sabre rattling, or genuine insider knowledge? Who knows. But it’s clear that the DUP is trying to frame their struggle with the UUP as a fight to the death, of their opponents electoral existence, if they can help it. The UUP’s candidate in South Belfast Michael McGimpsey remains defiant: “…they have put forward a relative unknown, with no track record and no relationship with the people of South Belfast. The folly of this scorched earth policy and this latest dirty …
With all the talk of repealing the act of succession and also the death of the Pope, the British media has recently taken an interest in religious and constitutional affairs. Peter Oborne in the Telegraph writes that Tony Blair has “betrayed the crown and the country“. Damian Thompson also looks at the religio-constitutional relationship between the Monarchy and the Prime Minister. Guardian writer Mark Almond writes on “The strange death of Protestant England“. KilsallyIT Technical Manager for a CCTV company …
