Election 2007

On our conditional way to a conditional future?

| Readers 6

So it looks like Northern Ireland is going to get a conditional green light for an early election. Conditional because although Sinn Fein appeared to take a giant step towards agreeing to normal policing, the motion passed by the party’s extraordinary conference was heavily conditional on the DUP keeping to the St Andrews timetable. Of course since the DUP gave its overall approval, that should leave the Secretary of State for Wales, etc. free to fire a belated starting pistol …

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Durkan: Sinn Fein agenda setting clock back on policing…

| Readers 4

If you have already bought the Irish News today, you’ll have seen Mark Durkan’s first direct pitch on his party’s position on policing over the last five years. It notes Sinn Fein’s lack of support for the Ombudsman’s Office, and their proposals to push intelligence gathering powers out of the reach of her office in future. In other words no one with any such future a claim could have it investigated. It also claims that his party used its position …

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Surge in nationalist registered voters…

| Readers 15

Looks like Sinn Fein’s local campaigns to get voters registered could be a significant factor in the March election. According to Douglas Bain, some 40,849 new voters have been added to the register, and it’s mostly in strong nationalist areas: The rise was 11.2% in West Belfast, 5.2% in West Tyrone and 4.7% in Foyle. By contrast the increase was 2.4% in Upper Bann, 2.5% in East Antrim and 2.6% in East Derry. The West Belfast rise is particularly interesting, …

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PUP to chose a new leader…

| Readers 5

Dawn Purvis is to fight David Ervine’s seat in East Belfast and Dr John Kyle to take over his seat on Belfast City Council. There are moves afoot to choose a new leader: a contest that Purvis must be one of the favourites to win. 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 …

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South Antrim DUP deselect two sitting MLAs

| Readers 196

There seems to be a bit of mirroring going on, as we get closer to the next deadline. The DUP deselected two of its sitting MLAs Wilson Clyde and Paul Girvan in South Antrim last night. Antrim councillors Mel Lucas and Trevor Clarke were picked alongside the local MP William McCrea. Hmmm… Have they just kissed goodbye to the third seat? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …

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Dissidents to get hammered at the polls?

| Readers 9

Brian Feeney is not impressed with the premise on which Republican dissenters have based their case, nor for that matter the Voice for Democracy group on the Unionist side. Most importantly, he reckons they are going to get hammered in the forthcoming election. 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. …

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New anti Agreement blog…

| Readers 9

This looks like it might be worth keeping a regular eye on. It’s an anti agreement blog that seems to be keeping a weather on how the DUP is running things on the ground in the run up to the election. 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

Haughey seriously ill…

| Readers 2

RTE reports that after being taken in to hospital last night Charlie Haughey is seriously ill in hospital. 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