This is a note from Nick for those who’ve been asking: “It seems, however, that nominations for the Westminster elections do not close until 19 April – so I won’t be able to launch the contest until the following day! As in 2001, I will be asking contestants to predict the outcome in each of the 18 Westminster seats, and to guess how many seats will be won by the five largest parties in the local council elections which also …
Worth noting before it slips any further off the BBC main headlines. Speaking today at the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, regarding his speech last week, Gerry Adams said “others have said there must be an answer within weeks, I have to say that in my opinion, it is not likely that the IRA’s process can conclude as hastily as that.” So, reading between the lines, aren’t we always, don’t expect an IRA response before the election? And why would there …
Two senior UUP members have officially given their support to DUP candidates in their constituencies. Lord Molyneaux is supporting the DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson in Lagan Valley and former UUP president Martin Smyth is behind the DUP’s Jimmy Spratt in South Belfast. The News Letter editorial points to a renewed split in the UUP.NIO poll findings were revealed yesterday in the Dublin based Sunday Tribune which indicates:- – the DUP`s six sitting MP`s are all safe. – the DUP`s Sammy Wilson …
Courtsey of the ubiquitous Newshound, the Ballymoney Times was at Ian Paisley’s nomination for the Westminster North Antrim seat. It’s most notable for the key messages that are likely to dominate in the party’s election campaign. 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 just under a week since we started our reader appeal, so we can bring you live blogging coverage of the Westminster election. We’ve had a great start. The total as it stands is £350, donated in various amounts from just eleven people!Having a blogger on the ground means that we reach the parts of the election others cannot reach. We’d like to kick off our coverage with a press panel from across the political spectrum to discuss issues and …
Chris Thornton asks in Time magazine, has Sinn Fein’s day finally come? Certainly, whatever the qualitative value of Adams’ so far unanswered call on the IRA to follow a politics only path, they’ve grabbed most of the early attention in the race to (or is it from?) Westminster. 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 …
ANYONE notice that quite a few election posters got blown down in the recent stormy gales? Aside from the constant issue of them getting taken down post-election quickly, do readers think they’re an effective way of getting votes or establishing a presence? A necessary evil, perhaps, or is it essential just to be seen to be keeping up with the competition? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
A pertinent quote at the end of this New York Times report on Adams’ speech, from Paul Bew, professor of politics at Queens University, on the tactics being deployed by Sinn Féin – “You have to say, ideologically, that it is selling the same horse twice.”The call for “initiatives” can be seen as an attempt to return to the situation last December and the stated position of the IRA then, still available on SF’s website, and probably worth noting – …
Interesting speculation as to what answer Gerry Adams might expect in the last week of the election campaign from the IRA. Whatever it is (provided there is serious substance to it), it could be the final knock out blow to the SDLP, who arguably have not fully capitalised on Sinn Fein’s two/three months on the political ropes. However David Trimble (and, by extension, the UUP) may prove to be the most notable scalp in this election. Mick FealtyMick is founding …
Despite some early speculation to the contrary, Mark Durkan is determined that his party will stand in all 18 constituencies. 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 Belfast Ulster Unionist Councillors have given their support to the DUP candidate, ex-RUC man Jimmy Spratt, as the only person that can unite Unionists in South Belfast. 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
Slow blogging today, as I try to work on a number of projects that will take place during the election campaign and just after. If all goes well, I’ll be guesting on Radio Ulster’s Seven Days round table on Sunday chewing the fat over the coming election on both sides of the water! Meanwhile, if you want to see some original Slugger reporting in the last week or so of the campaign – please, please put some pennies in old …
Hearts and Minds tonight features the first in a series with the political party leaders: “tonight it’s the turn of David Trimble. How is he hoping to bring back the glory days for Ulster Unionism? Also the Alliance’s David Ford on the need for real political leadership”. 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, …
THERE’S an interesting case coming up in the High Court tomorrow that the anoraks may want to watch out for. One of the political parties has made a party political broadcast that the BBC and UTV believe does not follow one of the guidelines. I’ll blog it properly tomorrow when it hits the websites.This thread is closed, cos I ain’t taking questions, and I wouldn’t want readers to prejudice the case accidentally – sorry! Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Brian Feeney may have lost a bit of his dramatic edge since the IRA officially denied its alleged role in Europe’s biggest bank robbery in December last years. Nevertheless, he captures the significance of the probable outcome of this election, in the last paragraph of this week’s column in the Irish News.He sees an increasingly stringent division becoming deeper: Unionists are quite happy with direct rule because its default position is unionism. For unionists change always means change for the …
There’s no doubt this election is likely to see a battle to the death for both the UUP and the SDLP. Mark Durkan faces a grim battle to hang on John Hume’s old seat in Foyle. But the real story fo the election could be loss of David Trimble’s seat in Upper Bann. If he does manage to hang on in their party may have also avoided the meltdown that it’s political opponents (and some independent commentators have been predicting …
We’re trying to beef up our partisan blogging team to reflect the balance of opinion currently going for election. So if you think you can put you party’s case forward on a day by day basis through Slugger, then drop me a line. Sinn Fein and the Alliance already have able blogging advocates, and we have someone lined up for the UUs. And remember, your party doesn’t have to be large to be represented. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …
The DUP has finally announced its candidate for South Belfast, Jimmy Spratt, a former head of the Police Federation. The Newsletter predicts this will be one of the most bruising contests in the whole election, with Spratt giving the much high profile UU candidate, the former Arts minister, Michael McGimpsey. Although hopes that the SDLP’s Alisdair McDonnell will be able to squeeze Alex Maskey’s vote sufficient to come in through the middle and steal this Unionist majority seat: despite the …
According to David McKitterick’s analysis the lack of detailed committments Gerry Adams public statement to the IRA yesterday is not as important as the message that a lack of public response from the IRA would send to the world about Adams’ political authority as leader of the Republican movement.Nevertheless, he still sees this primarily in the context of the election contest. In particular, it may aimed at loosening the SDLP’s slender grip on Foyle and Eddie McGrady’s more robust position …
THE BBC website has its Election 2005 Northern Ireland section up and running. It’s has a useful primer for newbies, with lots of handy information and background information. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
