Election 2007 – Page 10 – Slugger O'Toole

Steady as she goes..

Pete Baker on March 3, 2007, 7:25 pm

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While the BBC notes 10 motions tabled at the SF Ard Fheis calling on the party to alter it’s current, conditional, stance on support for policing the Belfast Telegraph tells us that voting has already been completed, although there doesn’t seem to have been much of a debate One resolution from Co. Kerry that said pledging allegiance to the police amounted to reinforcing British rule was withdrawn. Others from Fermanagh, Co. Dublin and Monaghan, called for support for policing to …

All parties have a common enemy: apathy!

Mick Fealty on March 2, 2007, 5:44 pm

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Davy Adams has an analysis (subs needed) on the former incumbent parties of Nationalism and Unionism. Whilst in the SDLP he sees solid reorganisation, and the beginning of a distinctive identity, he reckons the UUP have continued to struggle with some of the basics. On the nationalist side, and perhaps of some comfort to the UUP, the SDLP’s gradual recovery looks set to continue, with the party at least holding its own and maybe even closing the gap a little …

“a peculiar species of pseudo-parliamentary government”

Pete Baker on March 2, 2007, 5:14 pm

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The particular, and peculiar, form of government we face, should an Executive actually be formed, has come up for discussion on numerous occasions here on Slugger. In Today’s Belfast Telegraph, as pointed to by commenter parcifal, Eric Waugh points to the elephant in the room. It’s an elephant that even our own Secretary of State for Wales etc, identified previously.. only in Wales, though.. natch.From the Belfast Telegraph Deepening the chill, of course, is the elephant in the room: the …

Upper Bann’s runner’s and riders, according to ‘Wiggy’…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 11:57 pm

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One man’s guide to the candidates who have taken the time and the trouble to post information through his letterbox… 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

PUP launches site…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 11:46 pm

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Shame it’s taken so long, since in look and feel, it is one of the better looking/feeling political sites. Dawn Purvis has also begun a blog, to aid in her bid to take over David Ervine’s East Belfast seat. Her difficulty would appear not simply to be in retaining Ervine’s base, but also a much better organised vote management campaign from the DUP. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet …

Last Hearts and Minds before the election…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 11:42 pm

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For the last Hearts and Minds before the election, and “Gerry Adams tells us why we should vote for him. We hear the gossip from the campaign trail, and two passionate young reporters tell us why they feel the voting age of 18 is unjustly depriving them of a say in how their society is run”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …

Don’t forget your ID next Wednesday…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 11:38 pm

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I can’t imagine that any of this is news to any of our readers, but the Electoral Commission is advising anyone who wants to vote in the Assembly elections on 7 March 2007 that they need to bring with them an approved form of photographic ID. Approved forms of ID are: o A valid British, Irish or EU Passport o a current UK photographic driving licence o Translink Senior SmartPass o an electoral identity card A telephone helpline (0800 0323 …

Trade Unions criticise SF’s Mitchel McLaughlin

Pete Baker on March 1, 2007, 6:28 pm

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On Radio Ulster’s Talkback [near the end of the programme] Trade Union representatives, including Peter Bunting of ICTU, criticised Sinn Féin’s Mitchel McLaughlin after he called for civil servants to refuse to process bills for water charges and for postal workers to refuse to deliver the bills – a suggestion first aired, I think, on Slugger BlogTalkRadio last night. Adds as several commenters have pointed out, and one of the Trade Union reps mentioned on TalkBack, the £70million seven-year contract …

Trying to catch the Celtic Tiger by the tail…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 5:34 pm

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We spoke to Mitchel McLaughlin last night, on the same day his party launched their manifesto. He was at pains to note the major problem (under performance of the private sector here, does not require downsizing our massive civil service but a boosting of the private sector – although he was decidedly hazy on how that might achieved other than suggesting the UK needed to join the Euro, and an expansion of cross border bodies. Interestingly the balance of the …

DUP get Mori poll boost…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 1:51 pm

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Interesting poll figures from the Belfast Telegraph this morning (not yeat online). Amongst people who said they intended to vote, the DUP leads the field at 25% (-0.5% from ’03), with Sinn Fein behind by just three percent at 22% (-1.5%) The SDLP are at 20% (+3%). But our new advertisers, the UUP (-7%), are suffering at 16%(-9%). The Alliance have gone up from 3.7% in ’03 to a full 9% now. The Greens are already showing a respectable 3%. …

Ford predicts two seat gain…

Mick Fealty on March 1, 2007, 1:49 pm

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Interesting. I am not sure I would have entirely bought this line from David Ford last night, but after today’s Ipsos – Mori poll for the Belfast Telegraph, the idea that Alliance is on something of a resurgence holds some water. Whatever about the big game, he still faces a tough challenge in South Antrim – though he thinks he may just nick it off the SDLP. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the …

More promises..

Pete Baker on February 28, 2007, 10:20 pm

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UKUP multi-candidate Bob McCartney has pledged to represent each and every constituency for which he is elected.. assuming he is elected that is. Previously the Electoral Office had issued a statement on candidates elected in more than one constituency [pdf file] which, referring to the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001, assumed that a vacancy would be created in such circumstances.. Bob begs to differ – “By-elections will not take place unless he resigns, which he does not intend to …

Promises, promises..

Pete Baker on February 28, 2007, 10:00 pm

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A quick point to note on the Sinn Féin manifesto, launched today. The PA report has some interesting detail on the pledges it contains – more below the fold Sinn Fein also pledged in its 50-page manifesto to: :: Achieve fully democratically accountable civic policing, secure the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont by May 2008, develop a balanced and comprehensive strategy to acknowledge and address the suffering of victims and survivors, force the British government …

Durkan calls for Border Poll…

Mick Fealty on February 28, 2007, 3:49 pm

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Mark Durkan has called for an early poll on unification, and presumably the opportunity to campaign vigorously for a united Ireland. Given the DUP are pushing the degree of confidence within the Unionist community as a drop in those who think a united island is inevitable, they may well be pushing at a closed door. 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 …

Sammy Morse on, South Antrim…

Mick Fealty on February 28, 2007, 2:12 pm

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Sammy does a panoramic analysis of this heterogeneous, largely suburban constituency, which last time out gave rise to a three way game of electoral musical chairs for the last two places of the ballot. On that occasion Sinn Fein was the loser. This time however, he reckons the scramble for seats could include a difficult rearguard battle for the UUP in defending its second seat against a surging DUP. Last time, both the Ulster Unionists and DUP had two clear …

Wot, no Sinn Fein blog?

Mick Fealty on February 28, 2007, 1:48 pm

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Not sure what is happening with the Sinn Fein election blog. We picked it up on a few days ago, and duly added it to the election panel. However, since then we’ve discovered there is only one category and, it would seem, just one blog entry: a constituency report from Derry. Hmmm… The UUP blog seemed to have a similarly slow start, but is now picking up a head of steam. Clearly time is precious, particularly when with the lack …

Alliance propose Schengen based ‘hot pursuit…

Mick Fealty on February 27, 2007, 9:02 pm

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When David Ford told Radio Slugger (3/4 of the way through) he was not part of the moderate middle, but rather the ‘radical centre’, he may well have had this manifesto commitment’s in mind. Alliance would like to see the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Gardai able to pursue suspects on the other side of the Irish border. Such an instrument could be based on the European Union`s Schengen Agreement and would be an important tool in the …

Non payment of water bill meeting tonight…

Mick Fealty on February 27, 2007, 8:50 pm

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Water Tax is a big issue in this election, although since they are all against it (albeit for different reasons) it remains to be seen whether it will determine the final destination of any votes at all is another matter. Anyway, the ICTU is organising a meeting in Grosvenor House, Glengall Street (an historic address to conjure with) in an effort to organise a non payment of bills campaign, for when the bills arrive on April Fools Day: The Trade …

Good use of flickr…

Mick Fealty on February 27, 2007, 8:39 pm

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From SDLP Campaign. I should point out that the flickr group does not just contain stuff from the political parties, but they are in the mix. The SDLP get some fictitious Slugger prize or other for this wee gem, pointing out the massive up sizing of MI5 (and concomittant downsizing of Special Branch) in Holywood. 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 …

Election wiki on Education…

Mick Fealty on February 26, 2007, 3:46 pm

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The wiki is getting there slowly. The education page lays out three headline issues: the Bain Report; the abolition of the 11+: and integration of education. There are policies from Sinn Fein, the Conservatives and the UUP. If your party’s policy is not there, now’s the time to fix it… It may be time to give the rather forlorn Environment page some loving attention too.. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …