Middle ground

#SpAdBill controversy proves cross community politics CAN work

Mick Fealty on June 4, 2013, 6:04 pm

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listen to ‘Jude Collins and Malachi ODoherty discuss the passing of the SPAD bill at Stormont last night’ on Audioboo Via Jude Collins, a fascinating spat on Nolan this morning between himself and Malachi O’Doherty. For the most part the argument was over the framing of the SpAd Bill, with Malachi confessing his belief that it was an argument better not having. Effectively, Jude sees it as a double punishment for past… …the Allister-Alasdair bill has hurled us back into …

What remains valuable about the middle ground in Northern Ireland?

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2012, 12:47 pm

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It’s a commonplace wisdom in Northern Ireland that the middle ground of politics is exactly where you don’t want to be. Both nationalist and unionist politicians who have taken up middle positions have long been subject to the kind of death threats and physical attacks the Alliance party is being subjected to. The animus raised by the restriction of the flag on Belfast City Hall, is frightening to behold. Even from a distance. Yet it has always been the fate …