as the Assets Recovery Agency proves successful… well, that’s not quite what David Ervine is saying. But it is the opening salvo in an attempt to pressurise the Government to restore the PUP’s assembly allowance – removed as sanction for the party’s links to the UVF. The IMC’s findings should make the pleading irrelevant. Pete Baker
A report in the Irish Echo, by Paul Colgan, has Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams calling on “whoever is elected U.S. president to ‘deliver’ on their commitments to support the Irish political process”… Mmmm.. Perhaps he should have told Bairbre de Brun what he was going to say?Apart from the obvious hedging of bets Adams is full of quips, as ever, “Obviously, 2016 is an emotive date for republicans and nationalists, but I’ve never been taken up that much with it …
The DUP has given an answer to the SDLP’s question on their commitment to power-sharing – and by extension the chance of agreement between all the parties before the 25th November deadline set by the Governments.A few paragraphs worth noting in the Belfast Telegraph – ..the DUP last night succeeded in pushing through an amendment [to an SDLP motion] which said majority rule was best for the area and that “power-sharing is not the best form of government as it …
SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, may have heard part of what Henry McDonald had to say a couple of weeks ago, “Mark Durkan should get outraged more often”. Although, in the Irish News yesterday, he still argues that other parties must live up to the Agreement, he does land a few punches. – courtesy of NewsHound Pete Baker
SIR Reg Empey wraps himself in the Union flag and announces his intention to challenge Peter Robinson for the East Belfast seat in the next general election. The UUP reckons it has a chance of taking the seat, although Robinson has already dismissed his opponent’s chances. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
In the Observer, Henry McDonald argues that Gerry Adams’ auto-hagiography won’t be the only fairytale to be told to the Irish public if Fianna Fail’s needs must. Pete Baker
The further apart they seem. Liam Clark in the Sunday Times quotes Peter Robinson “the process isn’t blocked or stymied in any way” and “a Sinn Féin source” – “The Brits will not let it fall through this side of May. It is not in Tony Blair’s interests to have it lying in bits during the general election campaign.”.. you know, I think Tony Blair might have something else occupying his thoughts.According to the DUP deputy leader, “While there is …
Emer O’Kelly is forthright in her criticism of Mary Lou McDonald. Contrasting the condemnation of the Italian MEP Rocco Buttiglione’s nomination as European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs with the duality of visage exhibited in the SF MEP’s own commitment to civil liberties, Emer O’Kelly points out that “In terms of his beliefs, Mr Buttiglione is my ideological enemy. I know that because he is an honourable man who tells the truth”…. unlike some. Pete Baker
DUP man’s link with terror alleged Henry McDonald Sunday October 24, 2004 The Observer “A Democratic Unionist Party member is to be accused in the House of Commons of supplying confidential information to terrorists about the loyalist-turned-journalist Davy Adams. “ Ambrose Uprichard
Following on from his previous article, Intimidation of a Writer, on the UDA campaign against Davy Adams in Lisburn, The Blanket’s Anthony McIntyre revisits the ongoing campaign of intimidation against former Sinn Féin members in the Rathenraw estate in Antrim. The Sunday Life also covers the story, including a response from the junior SF councillor in Antrim, Martin McManus of the Antrim South East ward. Pete Baker
NOT mincing his words, Alex Kane says “the last few years have represented a living nightmare” for the UUP. In a typically stark analysis, the UUP man said: “Survival depends on how we address our problems and respond to our new and unpleasant circumstances.” If the amended constitution isn’t the answer to the party’s problems, is the UUP up to the challenge? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
SINN Fein leader Gerry Adams will address the European Social Forum at its opening this weekend. No doubt he will be recounting his meeting with George Bush, his party’s support for Private Finance Initiatives in the Assembly and how Sinn Fein called for a Coca Cola plant to be built while at the same time boycotting the product. Can Sinn Fein be seriously described as ‘socialist’ any more? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
EAST Antrim Ulster Unionist MP Roy Beggs is to seek re-election at the next Westminster election. This is the fifth most marginal seat in the UK, according to Chris Thornton – and Sammy Wilson wants it badly (the seat, that is). Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
In the Observer, Henry McDonald argues that Mark Durkan’s suggestion that the SDLP could “enter the Assembly as part of the official opposition to a DUP/Sinn Fein government” would be an inspired move for Northern Irish democracy.It’s an analysis that is, unsurprisingly, far from Brian Feeney’s remarks on the same suggestion – “How stupid can they get?” – and much in line with my own thoughts on the matter, see comments field here Pete Baker
By popular demand, here is Newton Emerson’s recent Irish News article on why he believes “A shy retiring Gerry [Adams would be] good for Irish unity”. (courtesy of Newshound) Pete Baker
OK, so it’s stretching the remit (again) but I couldn’t resist this one. The Labour Party had Bono (that’s a tenuous link, Ed.) for their party conference, so the Conseratives looked high and low for someone to guarantee the same level of coverage – and found… Rick Wakeman! (aka The Caped Crusader) The Guardian extracts the Michael Pete Baker
BELFAST Deputy Mayor Joe O’Donnell was on Talkback just now and has vowed to do what he can to “fast track” the search for a site for a Chinese community centre. This is excellent news – Joe is, after all, a bit of an expert at this. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Although the leadership of the DUP breaks down old barriers, at a Council level the message is somewhat different.The SF website reports: Sinn Fein Lisburn Council group leader, councillor Paul Butler has said that the refusal of DUP mayor Cecil Calvert to extend the invitation to this years mayoral banquet to Sinn Fein councillors not only breaches council protocol it also highlights the inability of the DUP to take even the first steps towards sharing power with nationalists and republicans. …
Alliance leader David Ford admits some of the failings of the old Agreement in an interview with epolitix.com Philip Weir
TWO politicians from very different backgrounds are looking back to the past this week (although that’s a common habit in NI politics), and examining their consciences. Former civil rights leader Austin Currie reveals how he questioned whether he had done the right thing during his Caledon ‘occupation’, given the horrific yet unintended consequences of his actions. Anti-Agreement unionist Jeffrey Donaldson’s struggle with his conscience on the eve of the Agreement’s publication is today’s extract from biography ‘Not By Might’ – …
