sdlp – Page 5 – Slugger O'Toole

Tim Attwood won’t seek re-election

David McCann on February 20, 2019, 6:22 pm

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The group leader for the SDLP on Belfast City Council, Tim Attwood has announced that he will not seek re-election in his ward of Blackmountain at the forthcoming election. I have watched Tim at close quarters since covering the monthly council meetings, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the standing orders and no matter how long the meeting or complicated the issue was able to understand all of the issues. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for me to turn around …

SDLP endorse partnership with Fianna Fail

David McCann on February 9, 2019, 4:51 pm

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SDLP delegates gathered in Newry today to debate the proposed partnership with Fianna Fail. After spending the afternoon debating the proposal, members have voted in favour of the partnership. The result of the ballot was 121 delegates in favour of partnership with Fianna Fail (70%). The support in favour of the alternative proposal of partnership with Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail was 53 (30%). Follow the vote the SDLP Leadership issued this message; Today SDLP members have voted in …

Slugger TV discusses Fianna Fail/SDLP and the #IrelandsFuture conference

David McCann on February 1, 2019, 4:32 pm

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This month I spoke with our own Chris Donnelly and Brendan Hughes from the Irish News David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Pro-Remain Parties “We urge the EU to remain firm in that position and call on the British Government to reconsider the reckless path that they have adopted”

David McCann on January 31, 2019, 4:21 pm

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“With only eight weeks until the UK exits the EU, the four pro-Remain Assembly parties – SDLP, Sinn Féin, Alliance and Greens – are united in our support for the backstop negotiated by both the European Union and the British Government. “We continue to believe that there is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit, and any opportunity to reconsider Brexit should be taken. “We believe that while the Withdrawal Agreement is imperfect, it will mitigate against a …

SDLP and Fianna Fáil can deliver our long awaited peace dividend

Soapbox on January 31, 2019, 3:37 pm

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On Saturday I attended the ‘Beyond Brexit: Ireland’s Future’ conference in Belfast. My immediate observations were firstly the sheer number of people that were in one room; a rarity for a political event in Northern Ireland. The broad representation of speakers undermined the myth that Irish Nationalists are a homogenous group. Despite the conglomeration of those present – they were all unified under the one realisation- that Brexit has shifted politics indefinitely. And that that shift has unearthed centuries old …

“the big message from Saturday was that the Northern nationalist mood of resentment, annoyance and frustration needs to be heeded.”

Pete Baker on January 28, 2019, 2:54 pm

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[Having thrown their toys out of the pram two years ago… – Ed] ANYhoo… In the Irish Times, Gerry Moriarty reports from the nationalist “gurn-fest” in Belfast at the weekend. From the Irish Times report Essentially this was nationalism speaking to nationalism although there were few people in the hall from a unionist or Protestant background. Unionist politicians weren’t invited but they will have heard the message nonetheless, and will have been alarmed by it. Southern politicians including Minister for Education …

Eastwood: Those of us who believe in a New Ireland need to offer a credible and positive vision – we will not protest our way into one.

David McCann on January 27, 2019, 1:22 pm

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The SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood addressed yesterdays Ireland’s Future conference at the Waterfront Hall. Here is what I thought was a key part of his speech. There’s no point in offering a challenge to others if we don’t first challenge ourselves. Those of us who believe in a New Ireland need to offer a credible and positive vision – we will not protest our way into one. Those who have deliberately enflamed the narrative that unionism as whole is unchanging, …

Fianna Fail and SDLP announce joint partnership

David McCann on January 24, 2019, 2:31 pm

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Fianna Fail and the SDLP met today in Belfast to launch their new partnership arrangement. The partnership will have three key themes 1) A politics that works -This will address Anglo-Irish relations, the current political situation in Northern Ireland and a new economic model. 2) Better public services-This will address reforms to key areas such as Health and Education. 3) Uniting Ireland’s people-This will address greater cooperation on the island and the arrangement for a future poll on unity. Specific …

This can be an exciting new project, the days and weeks ahead will determine the breadth of opportunity

Soapbox on January 23, 2019, 8:06 pm

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“Somewhere along the course of the road our conversations have drifted. They’ve centred too much on us as a party and not enough on the fate and future of the country. That stops here and now. Colum Eastwood’s first address to party members as leader remains, I believe, one of the most consequential from an SDLP Leader in over a decade. After winning a decisive victory over Alasdair McDonnell, it set the right tone for a party which had suffered …

Party Leaders reflect on two years without Stormont

David McCann on January 9, 2019, 11:17 am

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Two years ago today, Martin McGuinness announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister and the rest is history as they say. Fast forward and the various party leaders have been reflecting on the collapse of Stormont. Had the Assembly continued it would have been in the third year of its mandate. Michelle O’Neill from Sinn Fein; Through all the political breakdown and rancour of the past two years, it can be tempting to believe that the prospects of restoring the …

SDLP/Fianna Fail talks coming to a conclusion.

David McCann on January 3, 2019, 2:38 pm

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In today’s Irish News, Claire Simpson reports a message from the SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood and the Deputy Leader, Nichola Mallon to the party membership about discussions with Fianna Fail. It says; “Our discussions have been based on how best to meet the challenges of Brexit, how best to restore the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and how best to ensure that our values of reconciliation and the unity of our people can once again enter into the lifeblood …

Four Pro-Remain parties issue joint statement on the backstop

David McCann on December 10, 2018, 9:10 pm

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The following statement was issued by the leaders of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and the Green Party. The four Remain parties, Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance and Green Party continue to believe that there is no such thing as a good Brexit and our preference is for no Brexit at all. We recognise that the majority of people, businesses and civic society do not want Brexit either. “We have a shared responsibility to protect jobs, economic stability, the environment and …

15 years on from the 2003 Assembly Election

David McCann on November 26, 2018, 10:02 pm

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Today marks 15 years since the DUP and Sinn Fein emerged as the largest parties, overtaking the SDLP and UUP at an Assembly level. For your viewing pleasure I have taken some clips from the five main party manifestos. DUP- It’s Time for a Fair Deal Key points; Reduce MLAs from 108 to 72 Abolish Civic Forum Cut back North/South bodies Reduce govt departments Redefine equality agenda Sinn Fein-Agenda For Government Key Points Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Creation …

Slugger TV: We discuss the Fianna Fail/SDLP talks, #UUP18 and #Aras18

David McCann on November 2, 2018, 4:16 pm

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Slugger TV: Episode 19 from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo. My guests this month were commentators, Adi Peltz and Sarah Creighton. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

What would paddy Devlin make of a SDLP/Fianna Fail merger?

Soapbox on October 25, 2018, 10:10 am

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Over recent months we have seen continuous speculation and briefing by SDLP & Fianna Fail members who wish to promote the idea of a FF-SDLP merger. SDLP members have two key challenges to face should they seriously consider a merger with Fianna Fail, firstly how does Fianna Fail resonate with its labour values and secondary are Fianna Fail just too toxic due to their record of scandal. The SDLP has always had a labour bone in its body, the politics …

We Believe Her

Soapbox on September 26, 2018, 1:35 pm

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By SDLP Youth On Sunday past, we watched a very uncomfortable Michelle O’Neill, the Vice President of Sinn Féin on BBC Inside Politics, when being questioned about the Máiría Cahill case. Upon being asked if she believed Máiría Cahill’s account of the abuse she suffered in the 1990s, at the hands of an IRA member, Ms O’Neill replied, “it’s not for me to say that I believe her.” In recent years, Sinn Féin have positioned themselves as the political defenders …

The reality and rhetoric of where Fianna Fail stands in Irish politics

David McCann on August 25, 2018, 1:26 pm

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I read with some amusement Jack O’Connors contribution to the debate around Fianna Fail and the SDLP possibly developing a more formal arrangement. He argues; Noel Whelan is probably indulging in a bit of end of silly season kite-flying, but it is extremely damaging to the Labour Party. I mean no disrespect to the Fianna Fail Party, indeed I am on the record as saying that the decision not to go back into Government with them in 1994 was one …

The long and winding road to Irish unity

Soapbox on August 16, 2018, 12:57 pm

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“Of its nature this is a long-term policy, requiring patience, understanding and forbearance and resolute resistance to emotionalism and opportunism. It is not the less patriotic for that” TK Whitaker, Note on North-South Border Policy, 11 November 1968 There is no denying that the idea of a United Ireland has more momentum now than ever before. Out of the Brexit chaos, and the Stormont vacuum, it tempting to ask: is the time for patience is coming to an end? And …

Watch back the Leaders Debate from Feile and Phobail.

David McCann on August 8, 2018, 10:41 am

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Some thoughts In a 90 minute debate there was a very interesting dialogue between the representatives of the parties. It was on the whole, a respectful exchange of views. Simon Hamilton and Robin Swann deserve credit for how they approached this debate. They handled an audience that was far from being on their side well and I think it beneficial having that Unionist voice on the panel to remind all of us that not everyone thinks the same way on …

RTE’s celebration of John Hume feels like nostalgia for a time that has gone

Brian Walker on August 7, 2018, 8:59 pm

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RTE have just screened a documentary In the Name of Peace; John Hume in America by Maurice Fitzpatrick which the film maker has kindly drawn to my attention. Being in London I cannot access it yet nor have I read his accompanying book. But from the YouTube trail, this is a major celebration of John Hume’s life and work. Anybody who was anybody is in it, led by Clinton and Blair, although Jimmy Carter was not quite so dazzled. As …