sdlp – Page 25 – Slugger O'Toole

West Belfast: Eaten bread soon forgotten #ae11 #belw11

Blank on April 19, 2011, 7:59 pm

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In 2007 it was impossible for anyone that follows local elections to be anything but impressed with Sinn Féin’s vote management in West Belfast; 4.9 quotas returning 5 candidates when one of them (Gerry Adams TD) was exceptionally high profile seemed to be delivered effortlessly (those that have worked campaign trails know it will have been anything but). This time round SF are attempting the same feat with slightly different circumstance – Adams is gone so their vote management strategy …

SDLP launch an online PEB…

Mick Fealty on April 14, 2011, 10:14 am

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Interesting departure for the SDLP… LIke the Alliance full on broadcast video, it does not feature faces (one of the few weaknesses in that offering), but then again it’s a strictly internetty thing.. Interesting presentational format… What do you think? 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

SDLP campaign launch: uniting people and building prosperity … and a tweet-up

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 7, 2011, 1:15 pm

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Having postponed from earlier in the week, Margaret Ritchie this morning corralled the SDLP’s Assembly candidates together with many of the younger council candidates in Belfast’s Hilton Hotel to launch their election campaigns. Each party expends a lot of effort and expense organising these launch events … all for twenty or so reporters (and the occasional blogger) to turn up and provide a few minutes or inches of coverage. That aside, the SDLP’s leader called it a “marvellous opportunity”. The …

Clinton Centre breaches EU funding criteria?

Blank on April 6, 2011, 7:14 pm

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As a result of Pete’s blog on the Clinton Centre, it seems Slugger may have accidentally discovered an EU project that has previously breached its funding criteria: We have taken advice in relation to the funding conditions and as a result are not in a position to host activity by any political party [added emphasis] The centre has hosted at least two events for the SDLP. So were they wrong in their rejection of the SF event or admitting they’ve …

Dominic – computer says ‘kneel’

Blank on March 25, 2011, 6:22 pm

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The SDLP’s main Irish language activist Doiminic O Brolcháin, Dominic Bradley on the SDLP and his own website, has clarified not a lot when it comes to filling in a census form in Irish: Initially he complained there was no Irish version of the form: In absence of an Irish version of the census form, I have asked Census 2011 if it’s legal to fill the English form in Irish. To date, I have had no response. But now Bradley …

A ‘budget’ for Ministers who want to both have cake and eat it?

Mick Fealty on March 10, 2011, 10:37 am

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In the News Letter, NR Greer is distinctly underwhelmed by what the Northern Ireland Executive (or at least the majority shareholders within it) are now calling the Northern Irish budget: The UUP and SDLP have already set their faces against the budget, which is a cobbled together dog’s breakfast of random and vague proposals, noticeable for its lack of clarity, substance or direction. You would not pass A-level economics (not even new Labour’s dumbed down version) with a document this …

2 Ministers vote against budget, 1 missing…

Mick Fealty on March 9, 2011, 10:46 pm

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Interesting for cross border pol watchers that Sinn Fein is backing a cuts budget in Northern Ireland, whilst criticising the new coalition in the Republic for implementing Fianna Fail’s austerity focused four year plan. [See important caveat by IrishActuary on Twitter]. Just as interesting though is the way the so-called Manditory Coalition seems to be bursting apart at the seams, with the UUP Minister voting against, and Alex Attwood apparently missing in action… Margaret Ritchie: “Devolution was supposed to be …

Trench warfare, kamikaze style…

Pete Baker on February 22, 2011, 7:46 pm

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The Northern Ireland Executive’s trench warfare continued today with NI deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, issuing a statement claiming that the UUP and the SDLP “were lobbying for public money for their parties in talks with the British government in exchange for adopting an oppositional role in the Assembly.” Well, it’s a variation on his last claim, but the UUP are arguing of the need for a properly funded opposition by 2015. But the SDLP have denied Martin McGuinness’ claim, and they’ve issued a robust statement of …

“That long term approach is not confined to policing…”

Pete Baker on February 17, 2011, 11:26 pm

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Confirmation that the UK government is to provide an additional £200million to help the PSNI combat the continuing, and increasing, terrorist threat here – over four years with £57.1m in 2011-12, £53.3m in 2012-13, £62.4m in 2013-14 and £26.7m in the final year. And the BBC report carries these comments from the NI Justice Minister, the Alliance Party’s David Ford. David Ford said he had worked closely with the Chief Constable “to ensure that the needs of Northern Ireland are recognised in …

“This position could prove a political liability…”

Pete Baker on February 14, 2011, 5:33 pm

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Via Newshound. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke picked up on the reaction by the Sinn Féin president, and still Crown Steward and Bailiff of Northstead, Gerard Adams to the recent reports of a possible visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II later this year. Here’s the An Phoblacht report of that reaction I don’t think the queen should come. There are hugely unresolved matters in terms of the British still claiming jurisdiction even though in terms of the Good Friday …

Gallagher to fight FST for the SDLP…

Mick Fealty on January 19, 2011, 10:44 pm

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One of the fascinating differences between north and south is the difference in age profiles of the parties. I read somewhere recently the average age of the Dail is somewhere in the early sixties. But at the rate all parties are dumping old hands it should be considerably younger after the elections than now. So it is interesting that the SDLP in Fermanagh South Tyrone have plumped to stick with their veteran incumbent MLA Tommy Gallagher, choosing to deploy their …

Scottish Labour: “Minimum unit pricing was rightly rejected by MSPs because it is effectively a tax on the poor”

Pete Baker on January 18, 2011, 4:19 pm

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The UK’s coalition government has announced proposals to introduce minimum unit pricing on alcohol sold in England and Wales. But with it being a devolved matter, Northern Ireland doesn’t have to follow. Nevertheless, the NI Social Development Minister and the Health Minister have joined forces to announce their intention to launch a public consultation on the issue. Although there is already a wrinkle evident “I am meeting the Irish Minister for Justice and Law Reform Dermot Ahern in Dublin in the …

Destiny’s child

Blank on December 28, 2010, 5:44 pm

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I’d hazard a guess the SDLP’s Margaret Ritchie impact on the southern electorate’s consciousness is somewhere just above that of Tom Elliott and a fair way below Peter Robinson’s. Despite that and declaring “she had no wish to interfere” in the forthcoming election there she has done exactly that with an attempt to damage Sinn Féin’s vote (no mention of Fianna Fail and their destruction of the economy?): We in the SDLP want good relations with the three main parties, …

The five, five words of Christmas (incomplete)

Blank on December 23, 2010, 8:39 pm

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Christmas messages run through Wordle. Does what they say a lot, say a lot? DUP Christmas, God’s, Northern, Ireland, birth Sinn Féin Sinn, Féin, Ág, águs, leis UUP Northern, Ireland, Unionist, People, party SDLP: No Christmas message as yet Alliance: No Christmas message as yet Blank

Wikileaks: “Another idea sporadically under consideration…”

Pete Baker on December 13, 2010, 4:56 pm

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It’s an idea that has, probably, been overtaken by events… for now… But there is one more section from the US Embassy cables released by Wikileaks worth highlighting. A short note on the possibility of Fianna Fáil contesting elections in Northern Ireland from a cable dated 04 February 2005 8. (C) Another idea sporadically under consideration is that Fianna Fail could start competing in elections in Northern Ireland. The argument is that Fianna Fail’s best way of confronting Sinn Fein in …

SDLP MI5 and taking the fight to Sinn Fein…

ItwasSammyMcNally on December 4, 2010, 5:32 pm

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The SDLP are still alive – and they give the distinct impression that they see this as something of an achievement. As continuing (relative) peace brings with it political consensus to both sides of the constitutional fence, the SDLP like the UUP are armed with new and rather uninspiring leaders as they continue to struggle to find a gap in the green and orange political markets. For the UUP, with Tom (Elliott) the Orangeman in charge and with the Tory …

SDLP: Internal sectarianism on display?

Blank on November 18, 2010, 11:24 pm

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As Stormont parties debate Dawn Purvis’ doomed motion on double-jobbing, supported by all from the start, that now faces defeat at the hands of a DUP cross-community initative – you’d think others that endorsed the legislational would make at least a superficial attempt to support the spirit of what they ‘agree’ with ? Not the SDLP. Tonight, South Belfast SDLP (I’m informed 150 odd of them – I don’t believe it) selected Conal McDevitt, unelected MLA, and Dr Alasdair McDonnell …

Margaret Ritchie is offering real leadership

Brian Walker on November 14, 2010, 10:33 pm

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While one nationalist leader may be fading out from the northern scene, another is exhibiting real poise and growing self confidence. This image and this underrated leader’s speech deserve an imaginative, constructive and magnanimous response. 　SDLP Progressive nationalism is more confident, more optimistic, and more ready to engage wholeheartedly across the divide. We are not afraid to say ‘Northern Ireland’ or to encounter a member of the British Royal family at a function. How ridiculous was it for Martin …

SDLP: Minds clouded by SF?

Blank on November 7, 2010, 6:39 pm

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A passing glance at the SDLP party conference caused me to think they had a little too much emphasis on SF. So, I ran their leader’s speech through a word cloud to find out when Sinn Féin appeared on the list of most mentioned phrases. You hit ‘Sinn’ as the 10th most popular word during Margaret Ritchie’s address to the faithful. It beat ‘economy’. Blank

SDLP Conference (updated with a couple of interviews)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on November 6, 2010, 12:00 pm

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I caught up with SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie on this morning just after she had finished rehearsing her leaders speech in the empty hall. 1.30pm Having escaped from the conference to the side of a humid swimming pool, I reflect that the Ramada Hotel wasn’t anywhere near as well attended as their February conference in Newcastle. It does seem strange that with the election in May, the SDLP didn’t just postpone again until February and use the conference as a …