Well maybe not. A good write up from Dan McGinn on the tragic demise of David Trimble and a useful review of some of the big events of whgat has been something of a tumultuous end to a lacklustre 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
According to Radio Ulster: Paul Murphy is going. All we know from the Beeb is that neither Milliband, Browne, nor Blunkett will take it. Update: Aha, it’s Peter Hain (courtesy of Mark Devenport)!!! A serious heavyweight. Being groomed for the top tier in third term government? And it’s possibly an indication that Blair is looking for a serious fix in the circumstance! Holding pattern over!!! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …
Michael Ferguson, for Sinn Fein on Radio Ulster: “[Refering to the DUP] We are going to make it as easy for them as possible. We are going to be a dance partner to them. We are going to try to help them make the leap. The day of undemocratic domination is gone”. 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 …
More details when it’s announced in the next few minutes… 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
On Radio Ulster, and only in partial jest, Jeffrey Donaldson pointed out that he and his former colleague David McNarry joked about them both being Chelsea supporters and finished the point off with the suggestion that as Chelsea had waited 50 years to win the English soccer Premiership, so it would take the UUP fifty years to come back from this defeat. Ouch!! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet …
UUP leader David Trimble loses Upper Bann by over 5000 votes to DUP candidate David Simpson. Not the first Party Leader since Ramsay McDonald to lose his seat.. but a massive blow to the UUP, and to David Trimble personally. He’s likely to follow the example of Michael Howard and step down as party leader after this… step forward Lady Sylvia? Pete Baker
An emotional David Trimble thanked his wife and his family and suggested that his defeat might be a silver lining for them at least. “The Democratic Unionist Party have had a great result here but that they have inherited a very strong position for unionism”. And he wished his opponent well in defending that good position. He went on to suggest that with power comes responsibility. David Simpson’s vote was up by 8% and Trimble was down by 8%. Simpson: …
Sinn Fein privately are admitting that Derry is gone to Durkan. One report says it’s looking like a 2,000 majority. They’ve polled well in Shantallow and Pennyburn. It looks like they are going to do well in the locals too. A new card of youthful councillors seems to have gone down well with the electorate. It looks like Slugger taken in by a bit of spit. Should Martin and Mitchel have swapped? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He …
A pregnant Michelle Gildernew is now climbing the steps to make her acceptance speech. The figures SF, 18,638 DUP 14,056 UUP 8,869 SDLP 7,230. The overall proportions in FST are 53% Nationalists to 48% Unionist. Radio Ulster: “a single Unionist would have walked it”. Watch this in four years or so’s time! 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 …
Everyone in the SDLP should read and ingest with interest. Stephen Pollard on the dangers of ‘getting out of electoral jail free’. 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
Ind 235 WP 193 SF 2882 SDLP 10339 UUP 7263 DUP 9104 Naoise Nunn
Ermm.. that’s this monkey by the way.. re-elected Mayor of Hartlepool.. although he doesn’t talk about bananas these days. Why? Who did you think I meant? Tut Tut.. You’re making up your own punch-lines again! Pete Baker
Interesting stuff in South Belfast. Unofficial figures say McDonnell is currently head towards 12,000 votes. But Spratt is still close. Watch for a recount if it’s within 500 or so. McGimpsey was described as looking as funerial as his nickname ‘the Undertaker’ on BBC N. As we said earlier Maskey is holding his vote. I’m off to the cente of town with the laptop – hoping not to miss anything overly important in the meantime. Keep us posted below if …
David Burnside, on the advice of David Ford of Alliance (the reliable wonks of Ulster elections) thinks his seat is going to Willie McCrea of the DUP. On BBC tv coverage he said he heard people on the doorstep say, “I’d vote for you, but not for a party led by David Trimble”. And more impressively: “…people are becoming fanatically apathetic”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …
The DUP say that in the two Edenderry’s and Magherlin where Trimble had his outstanding performances they have taken the lead. They think they have it! The DUP says that the UU’s are privately saying it could be a 3000 – 5000 majority for Simpson. Treat with caution. But if it turns out to be true it will be victory of strategy over hope! Or how one colleague put it at lunchtime: “it’s the death knell of amateur politics”. Update: …
For those anxious to know, according to Radio Ulster “they like their tea breaks in Dromore”. So they have not even finished the verification process yet! 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
Ian Paisley always makes good copy. On Adams and Sinn Fein: “I’ll not be talking to him as long as he keeps his guns and his terrorism. He tells us he all for peace, when all the time he’s planning for war. The only way forward for Northern Ireland is to first of all win the war”. When confronted by Noel Thompson with a question on murders committed by Ulster Resistence guns, “Gerry Adams should go home and shave off …
The Alliance vote has fallen flat to 2/3% in North Down’s Westminster race. Towerview and Ballyholme are polling 2/1 in Herman’s favour. Peter Weir seen chewing his pencil, Sylvia looking happy. The anomalous constituency. Two main reasons The candidate is a woman, capable of pulling in substantial Catholic votes. She had a clear defensive strategy of targeting the Alliance vote. McCartney’s endorsement was a two edged sword for Weir, which may have obscured his party’s powerful overtures to the middle …
Diane Dodds on Radio Ulster: “it’s not a polarisation [between communities] but a unification of parties”. 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
One account tells us that Spratt is 2,000 ahead of McDonnell. Not confirmed from anywhere else yet. Update: Apparently this is nonsense, “Going to the wire” – DUP! 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
