Election 2005

Ciaran Barnes in Daily Ireland has an entirely plausible piece that speculates that if the SDLP experiences meltdown in these elections, they may find themselves supplanted by another party: namely Fianna Fail!He has an unnamed source inside FF, who suggests: Some people believe that the SDLP will link up with Fianna Fáil as its sister party if they endure a drubbing at the hands of Sinn Féin this time round. But the reality is that the Fianna Fáil leadership feels …

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Slugger hears through the grapevine that Michael McGimpsey was not the only senior UUP politician not to show up for an arranged appearance. Reg Empey apparently did not appear at the FSB’s meet the politicians session in the Europa tonight. 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

After a quiet first week, the Kennedy campaign in Gerry Adams’ West Belfast constituency seems to be limbering up. On Wednesday, he’s going to the Oireachtas to meet with party leaders in the Republic, and, Slugger understands, will present them with a dossier of punishment beatings and shootings. He’ll be accompanied by Michael Gallagher of the Omagh victims group. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

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Breaking News carries the story : SF expels two party members. Two members have been expelled and four more have quit the party after refusing to make statements. No details as yet on the SF website Newsroom UTV carries a more detailed report,McCartney sisters challenge Adams over ousted Sinn Fein pair, that includes criticism of Gerry Adams who is accused of ” confusing matters more than clearing them up.” Ambrose Uprichard

Only two days to go before the Slugger Live! coverage kicks off. If you want to come along to the launch event at Queens on Wednesday night, then I recommend you book your seat(s) now! We have only a limited number of seats available. If you can’t get there in person, we’re drafting in Richard Delevan from SicNotes to blog report live from the Institute. So you’ll have the opportunity to put your own questions and tease out some of …

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Michael McGimpsey found himself at the centre of intense press speculation when he didn’t show for yesterday’s edition of Seven Days. The programme was focused on the South Belfast election race and featured all the main runners, bar him. At the last minute, Lagan Valley hopeful Basil McCrea stepped into his shoes. Mr McGimpsey said he had made alternative arrangments. However, this no show will raise more questions about the party’s appetite for a scrap with the DUP. Mick FealtyMick …

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The excellent Public Whip site has this quesitionnaire which interrogates your MP’s voting record and makes recommendations on which party you should vote for. We tested this a few weeks ago when it was in beta format, and it came up with some interesting suggestions. Let’s just say, it takes no account of the constitutional question. So don’t try it if you are prone to having panic attacks!! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

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The DUP launched its election manifesto this week, and thus far I haven’t seen any critical analysis of it. Mine goes thus:1. “Let us continue the unionist revival” – Stormont is suspended, PIRA activity continues, Direct Rule Ministers impose education cuts and the water tax: what revival? Furthermore, this sits uneasily beside Paisley’s statement at the manifesto launch that the a DUP victory would be the ‘salvation of the union’ – he can’t have it both ways. 2. “Keeping Unionism …

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Tom Griffin with a valuable insight into the manifesto outlooks from each of the three main parties in Britain.He quotes the Tory document as the most palitable to Unionist tastes: “We will not accept any party into the government of Northern Ireland linked to a paramilitary organisation that holds on to illegal weapons and is engaged in any criminal activity. In the absence of devolved government, we will make direct rule more accountable.” He comments: This might well prove very …

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Barry McCaffrey with a in-depth consideration of the DUP North Belfast seat. There’s little liklihood of an upset here, but may prove a useful litmus for the degree of consolidation on each side, in this constituency of split loyalities. 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

I was browsing the DUP website earlier and found this section and one part of it particularly caught my attention. 9: No Rates for Orange Halls In the negotiations the DUP pressed the Government to reduce the burden on Orange Halls by exempting them from Rates. The government accepted our case. In February the Government forwarded proposals for consultation. These new measures should be in force from next April. “I am delighted that the DUP has succeeded in persuading the …

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Nice piece in the Economist on the over elaboration of polls and punditry and how betting concentrates the political mind. 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

Paul T Colgan in the Sunday Business Post quotes anonymous “republican sources” and Jim Cusack in the Sunday Independent quotes more anonymous “republican sources”.. and they could both be right Pete Baker

Paul Colgan looks at some of the ups and downs since the last elections. Backing from the southern parties is not new, but this time out the SDLP is content to go for external endorsement, rather than hands on help. And despite cuts in Sinn Fein’s income, how much does the party really spend on its election campaign, and will the cuts make any practical difference? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …

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Liam Clarke in today’s Sunday Times discusses something that, if confirmed, considerably undermines the impact of Gerry Adams supposedly seismic call for Volunteers to leave the IRA and join Sinn Féin instead . According to the electoral commission, they have not been notified that one of the main suspects in the murder of Robert McCartney is no longer “treasurer of Sinn Fein in the South and East Belfast constituencies for electoral purposes”.McCartney suspect was in Sinn Fein Liam Clarke “THE …

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UKUP leader Robert McCartney has responded to UUP claims that he has been DUPed into not standing in North Down. Dermot Nesbitt claimed that the DUP manifesto said that a D`Hondt style government was out of the question but that it did not mean “out of the question forever”.Mr McCartney has since stated that: “Not only does the DUP manifesto confirm that a mandatory coalition with Sinn Fein under D`Hondt or any similar arrangement is `out of the question` but …

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The DUP has today launched it`s Business Policy paper. Nigel Dodds has expressed his gratitude to the UUP for publicising the DUP`s recent pro-business meetings held in London, Dublin and Belfast. Peter Robinson has also been outlining the parties pro-business stance:“We believe that NI business, compared to other regions of the United Kingdom, is enduring excessive costs in several areas such as bank charges, insurance, fuel and transport, energy, rates, potential water charges and red tape and bureaucracy. These costs …

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Mark Lawson, in the Guardian (and, as I’m reminded by Robin at perfect.co.uk, 2 days after the Times carried a similar article) has a quick look at the way blogs are covering the General Election, and Slugger gets a name check, but no comment on our efforts so far.. probably for the best given the conclusion he reaches – “At its worst, blogworld most resembles a radio phone-in for leftwing men but without a Victoria Derbyshire or Brian Hayes to …

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The Daily Ireland, in a fair and well written review, takes a look at the coming battle for Seamus Mallon’s fiefdom and thinks Dominic Bradley is no better a successor to Seamus Mallon than Mark Durkan is to John Hume. Sinn Féin finally ready to breach Mallon bastion – Music to Conor Murphy’s ears. Now-or-never is their assessment. Ambrose Uprichard

It’s probably clear now that, much like the SDLP, the UUP don’t have many safe seats. Sylvia Hermon’s North Down constituency is not safe in precisely the way Eddie McGrady’s seat in the south of the county is not safe either. If both can galvanise their core vote they should be safe home. Chris Thornton on the overwhelmingly Unionist base of North Down, where Hermon is probably the only Unionist candidate (of either stripe) that can expect substantial backing from …

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