Before it goes, this quick (not entirely unbiased) portrait of the history of two parties which share the same lifespan, but little else, from Danny Morrison is worth a read. 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
What had been promoted, in some reports, as the SF Ard Chomhairle’s ‘decision’ meeting on the governments’ proposals, has turned out to be nothing more than another ‘briefing’ by their party president.But the alarm bells will be ringing in government, and DUP, circles following the statement by Gerry Adams that, on decommissioning, “he was not in a position to go to the IRA because no final deal had been reached”. That’s a tacit, and public, claim that the IRA have …
Alistair Campbell (tongue only slightly in cheek) gives the Tories a rundown of what they have to do to win the next election. Objectives are easy, if you have a good strategy! Needless to say he doesn’t think much of their strategy under the current leadership.”Political campaigning in the modern era requires relentless focus on objective, strategy and tactics, and an ability to know the difference. Objectives are easy. Once you have a clear strategy, tactics are easier than when …
That’s the heading The Irish Echo has on Paul Colgan’s report. Attributed to the SDLP’s Mark Durkan, natch, but Colgan finds support for that interpretation from none other than Brian Feeney.Not that Feeney mentions this in his Irish News article – blogged here – but then when Feeney asks in that column “What was it [the last 30 years] all for?” he, keeping an eye on his regular audience, isn’t asking Gerry Adams. The line from the Irish Echo report …
As first stated by our own Philip Weir here yesterday, it looks like the Alliance Party have called a halt to standing down in favour of other ‘moderate’ parties.Noel MacAdam’s piece which quotes party leader David Ford suggesting that he might have been backed for a peerage, where his candidates to back down in favour of the UUP in several key constituencies. MacAdam mentions East and South Antrim, and North Down – three crucial battleground constituencies in the next Westminster …
many and varied overtures from ulster unionists explored on today’s talkback. alliance reject notion of standing aside for westminster poll, but much less convincing denial by gary mcmichael (one of trimble’s appointees to civic forum) that he is bound for cunningham house. david ervine and mcmichael to reside in same party? Philip Weir
‘Pay us to agree!’ is the clear subtext of the emergence of a call for a payment of £1Billion if the DUP and SF agree to the Irish and British governments’ proposals. None of the other political parties here seem prepared to question this – it would be a difficult line to take publicly – but there are reasons why the political cover provided by such a payment could adversely affect future politics here.Without the necessary consideration of financial prudence …
I just wish we could blog press photographs as easily as text. There’s a priceless photo on the front of the FT this morning showing Bill Clinton and George Bush sitting in the Arkansas rain for the opening of the Clinton Library. The paper’s leader may hold some lessons for the two defeated parties in Northern Ireland’s last Assembly election, on the protean nature of today’s shifting constituencies:”Mr Kerry did mobilise the base. But it was not enough. The Democrats …
SEAMUS Close (Alliance) and Gregory Campbell (DUP) have announced that they will be standing for Lagan Valley and Londonderry East in the next Westminster election. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
While I hear what Mick is saying about the DUP and SF preferring to play their cards close to their chests, the pressure is already telling on some. SF’s Mitchel McLaughlin is quoted by Dan McGinn, PA Ireland Political Editor – “the proposal that the entire executive be elected in a block vote… [is] a proposal that is not going to cause Sinn Féin too much heartache”. That was yesterday. Today, SF to press Blair to change government proposals.In between …
THE Electoral Commission has a new report out today on campaign spending in last year’s election. The downloadable report shows how political parties and candidates spent their funds contesting the 2003 Assembly election. Spot anything interesting?The Electoral Commission said: This was the first election to the Northern Ireland Assembly at which parties were subject to a new set of controls on campaign spending. As part of our role to promote transparency, expenditure returns submitted by parties and candidates have been …
The Governments’ decision to present the DUP and SF with their proposals for a ‘deal’ is a tacit admission that those two parties, by themselves, cannot provide a way forward for the political process. And yet we are still facing a situation in which SF and the DUP are being placed in a position to decide just that. The headlines may say ‘NI parties hear plans for deal’, but the reality is that only two parties are being asked and …
FOUNDER Alliance Party member, Sir Robert Cooper, has died aged 68. He was perhaps best known for his commitment to ending discrimination in the workplace.Bob, later Sir Robert, Cooper was born in Co Donegal and was the first Joint Political Chairman of the Alliance Party with Sir Oliver Napier. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1973 as a member for West Belfast. Afterwards, he was elected as Alliance’s Deputy Leader, a position he held until 1976. He …
UTV carries the story O’Donnell to step down from deputy mayor post Mr O’Donnell has cited personal reasons, denying it has anything to do with controversy and censure over his land deal. However, one has to wonder – did he jump or was he pushed ? HQ are very mindful these days of their image with the protestant community , and are bound to have been pleased with the story carried by Belfast Telegraph last night. Protestants perceive ‘more moderate’ …
Despite a more youthful and unified party conference marked only by the walk out of its only high profile dissident these days, David Burnside, the UUP may be condemned to waiting for the DUP to drop the ball in order to make up its recently lost ground, or so Mark Devenport believes. 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 …
The BBC reports on David Trimble’s address at the UUP conference in Newcastle, County Down, where he has provided his analysis of the failings of the new political majorities here to reach a resolution of the difficulties he had struggled with. It includes perhaps his most scathing attack on the DUP to date.His comments on the changes being sought by the DUP are sure to cause a reaction. “What is the gain if the DUP is not required to vote …
FORMER Assembly Minister Carmel Hanna of the SDLP has been deselected by her party, and will not be standing in the forthcoming Council elections. I suppose that’s what happens when you’re a moderate in a party that believes it has to be seen as more extreme… Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
NOEL McAdam reports that the DUP executive will meet next week to approve any deal that may emerge to restore devolution. McAdam points out that the “80-strong body can ratify a deal without a wider party meeting – unlike the regular UUP Council meetings of recent years – and could be summoned within 48 hours”.Jeffrey Donaldson said: “It would be wrong to go into great detail because negotiations are at such a sensitive stage but at the moment we don’t …
Here’s an interesting snippet that nearly passed us by (thanks Alan). Fianna Fail has cleared the way for individuals living in Northern Ireland to join the party. There’s still no right to form Cummain or constituency parties, but none the less it’s a potentially significant move towards a more formal presence north of the border, either alone or in some relationship with the SDLP. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …
Some readers took our occasional but consistent analysis that Bush was on course for victory in last Tuesday’s election as tacit support for the president’s campaign. Nothing could be further from the truth – by which I don’t mean to imply that we were secretly backing the Democrats! We strive for a rough journalism of detachment.Much of the reaction to Bush’s election has at times verged on contained hysteria. However the campaign had some good news for all sides, not …
