Election 2007

The Press Association is running a series called The Panel, something we are keen to replication on our Slugger Radio productions. They have brought together a panel of policy experts who are “drawn from policy areas which will become key battleground issues during next month’s Assembly Election. As voters look beyond the constitutional debate which has dominated politics, our five experts will cast a critical eye over what the party manifestos have to say on health, education, the economy, crime …

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This was posted nine hours ago to YouTube… Is this Sinn Fein follows the UUP? Onward with the YouTube Election… * Deanfaidh Sinn Fein an gno, the slogan repeated throughout… 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

Hearts and Minds tonight: …it’s the turn of the SDLP leader Mark Durkan to set out his election stall. Is he now resigned to being the nationalist also-ran? And the PUP’s Dawn Purvis on her baptism of electoral fire as party leader. Also check out the Hearts and Minds top ten political clangers and the latest gossip from the Campaign trail. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …

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It’s very impressive looking (and it abandons the lower case logo, for more substantial blocks). Though I’ve still to do any tinkering in the background just to see how interactive it actually is… just one thing… Do you know something we don’t guys: Help us win on the 4th of May? 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 …

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There were some interesting pieces in the Irish Times yesterday that I didn’t have the opportunity to pick up… Dan Keenan was in Lagan Valley (subs needed), one of the most difficult seats to call, not least because of the retirement of Seamus Close and Patricia Lewsley, and the UUP’s decision to run three candidates where arguable Jeffrey Donaldson’s vote holds vast sway. But, argues Keenan, it is precisely this popularity that could lose them the chance of taking a …

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As Gonzo notes, Nick Whyte’s prediction competition is now open… I usually hold off to near the end, but I would say that the margin for error is going to be a lot tighter this time than usual… All the past performances are available on the same site, and you can check out Politics.ie’s charts for all the candidates… 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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On tonight’s programme we kick off with an interview with UUP leader, Reg Empey, who’s party line will be to question the capacity of ‘Gerry and Ian’ to deliver. We take a look at various of the obvious constituency face offs, and some of the less obvious ones. And Pete and I, chew the cud over OTRs, the Ulster Rugby, and anything else that comes up… You can join in by ringing + 1 (646) 652-4838. Skype is cheaper! Adds: …

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Sammy Morse with the first of his constituency reports looks at East Belfast, where he thinks Reg Empey and Michael Copeland of the UUP should safe. Naomi Long for Alliance should also get home. The only serious question he raises is whether, on one hand the DUP vote manage sufficiently to take David Ervine’s PUP seat. Dawn Purvis, the new party leader, has a tough uphill which Sammy reckons needs a near perfect storm elsewhere to keep the party’s flame …

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There are some great photos in the Northern Ireland group… not least this one, but you really have to go to flickr and roll over the annotations to get why SiD has called it division.jpg. It features the DUP and Sinn Fein’s campaign launch, just yards apart… 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, …

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Today all the nominations are lodged for the Election on 7th March, so we are now relatively sure there actually will be an election. As in the past, we hope to bring you on-the-ground reports in the week running up to the event itself. As we get closer to the election, we’ll also bring you more Slugger Radio reports, with a series of policy round tables, a Slugger Live! event with a panel of politicians answering your questions, on and …

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Eastwoods have reopened their book on the 7th March elections. Interestingly they are tipping Diane Dodds to hold for DUP at 4/7. Though Sinn Fein to win 5 seats are at 11/10. In Strangford, you can get evens on the SDLP unseating Alliance’s Keiran McCarthy. Interestingly, in South Antrim they are quoting David Ford and Mitchel McLaughlin: Sinn Fein to win the seat 3/5, and Alliance to hold seat is currently at Evens. No price on the SDLP. Note: original …

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Looks like George Ennis MLA has resigned the DUP whip… hardly a surprise to Slugger readers, but along with Terry Williams’ defection, it loses the party overall control on the local council… H/T to Intelligence Insider. Not auspicious news ahead of tonight’s sign off meeting for the party’s election manifesto… Correction: as BL below notes, we do not have any MLAs at the moment so Ennis is not actually currently an MLA…According to the Ark Election site the 2005 council …

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