Unionism – Page 52 – Slugger O'Toole

DUP’s ones to watch for the future

Mick Fealty on June 1, 2006, 2:40 am

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Beano has a guest blogger who speculates on the movements/factions inside the DUP. It is (as the guest author acknowledges) all a bit Da Vinci codeish, and it conflates religous affliation without reference to the wider internal context of the party. But certainly some of the people he mentions are likely to become big DUP names of the future, not least North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey and David McConaghy who was key to David Simpson’s unseating of David Trimble in …

UUP’s cause for concern…

Mick Fealty on May 31, 2006, 5:07 pm

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Although it was written for last Saturday, Alex Kane’s Newsletter column is probably even less welcome today in Cunningham House that it was back then. It speaks for itself.By Alex Kane The decision to bring David Ervine into the Ulster Unionist’s Assembly Group has given me more cause for concern, and more pause for thought, than almost anything that the party has done since 1995. Ervine remains leader of the PUP. The PUP is the political voice of the UVF. …

Some confusion surely…

Mick Fealty on May 24, 2006, 2:14 pm

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The BBC’s Ireland correspondent yesterday noted the tactical nous behind Gerry Adams’ nomination of Ian Paisley for the office of First Minister. After Hain announcement yesterday of his intention to establish an Assembly restoration committee, it seems the DUP may be on the back foot somewhat, after Reg Empey suggested Ian Paisley’s party was at sixes and sevens over the issue. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …

Unionists and the paramilitary connection…

Mick Fealty on May 22, 2006, 6:06 pm

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Newton Emerson, with a wry look at the political dilemmas on the Unionist side of the house. And hints that Sinn Fein’s electoral success may be resulting in a lesser presence on the ground. 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

McKay a victim of demonisation

Mick Fealty on May 19, 2006, 5:43 pm

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Don McKay tells Clare Regan his version of how he came to resign from the Parades Commission: “…the story broke and I was made a pawn in a wider political game. I have been battling on three fronts. The SDLP and Sinn Fein were both demonising me. It’s been made out that I told a complete bundle of lies, like I didn’t even know Dolores or David. That’s not the case,” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

“That would be ludicrous.”

Pete Baker on May 17, 2006, 8:01 pm

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Still waiting forTranscript available[permanent link], but the BBC report that the UUP’s only MP, Sylvia Hermon, has stated in the Commons that she was not party to the decision to approach the UVF-linked PUP leader, and MLA, David Ervine to join the UUP in the Ulster Unionist Assembly Group, which caused her “great distress” according to the report. She seems to have given the move her qualified support though.. Apparently ignoring the Secretary of State’s reminder that the UVF are …

PUP, anti-sectarianism and the UVF…

Mick Fealty on May 16, 2006, 11:43 pm

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Fortnight magazine this month features a piece called Loyalist Crossroads by Aaron Edwards and Stephen Bloomer. It’s a joint article based on their research paper, Democratising the Peace in Northern Ireland: Progressive Loyalists and the Politics of Conflict Transformation. It’s dated November 2005. You can find the full copy here. It’s lengthy and detailed. But given the controversy around David Ervine’s joining of the UUP, there are a few bits worth highlighting:Firstly his and his party’s anti sectarianist stance: During …

No pictures please…

Mick Fealty on May 16, 2006, 12:11 pm

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The press were barred from taking photos in the chamber yesterday. I spent my time watching the feeds, and so clipped one of the only real action in the house when Paisley made his point of order. Other visuals (not captured, doh) was the site of a dignified Paul Berry coming in at the end with the other independents. David Ervine and the UUP’s most prominent figure on the ‘socialist’ wing of the UUP Fred Cobain signing together. Then the …

UUP: party of law and order…

Mick Fealty on May 16, 2006, 11:42 am

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Reg Empey in this morning’s Newsletter is on the attack over the DUP’s questioning of his pact with the PUP. “It will mean that instead of an excutive split six seats for unionists and six for nationalists, unionism will have a five seven majority”. Indeed, it may be that the DUP’s public annoyance is routed in the possibility that it had its own private plans (Bob McCartney and Paul Berry have both been mooted) stymied by this move. Questioned on …

a Faustian pact – redux?

Pete Baker on May 13, 2006, 5:41 pm

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I was sceptical of this story when BVG mentioned it on this thread last night, and it’s still speculative, as well as being highly cyncial and highly risky for the UUP if true, but the BBC report that PUP leader David Ervine has been approached to join the UUP within the Assembly [while remaining leader of the PUP outside? – Ed] in order to secure an additional ministerial post in an executive that may not be formed for some time.. …

Orange Order in Dublin

Pete Baker on May 3, 2006, 4:14 pm

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And meeting McAleese.. according to the BBC that’s Martin McAleese, the non-elected husband of the Irish President, whose meetings have attracted criticism in the past, although the UTV/PA report claims that President Mary McAleese is also expected to attend, possibly – RTÉ don’t necessarily agree. ANYway, it follows the Orange Order’s meeting yesterday with the SDLP, but there a couple of points in the reports today worth highlighting.From the BBC report – Although Mr McAleese is not an official arm …

The Orange and anti-clericalism…

Mick Fealty on May 3, 2006, 2:00 pm

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Newshound has the rest of that Rite and Reason piece from Brian Kennaway. The most striking part is what he describes as the anti-clericalism that’s been growing within the Orange for most of the duration of the troubles and stands in marked contrast with the organisation of the 1950s. Over the 200 years of the institution’s existence many people have written from the position of ignorance and communicated to the wider world inaccuracies about the position of the order. This …

Orange tradition betrayed?

Mick Fealty on May 2, 2006, 12:58 pm

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The title of Chris’s piece below on the eminence of the Marching Season put me in mind of Brian Kennaway’s Rite and Reason slot in the Irish Times yesterday. He notes, “The Orange institution has often been maligned by those who are not only opposed to its ideals but to its very existence. Much of this criticism arises out of a lack of knowledge if the order’s principles, but some is a result of malevolence. It is difficult, humanly speaking, …

a Faustian pact

Pete Baker on April 28, 2006, 7:56 pm

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As the BBC report, David Trimble seems to have used the launch of Reverend Brian Kennaway’s book The Orange Order – A Tradition Betrayed to try to settle a few scores, accusing his enemies within unionism of seeing “the Orange Order, Portadown District and the Drumcree issue as a battering ram that they would use to destroy the Agreement”. The DUP’s David Simpson, in response, accused Trimble of having “manipulated the institution in many ways to get the leadership of …

Still waiting?

Pete Baker on April 28, 2006, 6:36 pm

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In the Guardian Henry McDonald is less than impressed with those who favour an optimistic reading of the runes for November [btw I think he meant a 180 degree turn, not 360 – Ed]. As well as arguing that the proposed consultation by the DUP is likely to produce a negative response, he returns to a suggestion he made previously, in November 2005, as Mick noted at the time. Pete Baker

Hearts and Minds: why Hain’s timetable will work…

Mick Fealty on April 28, 2006, 1:01 am

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Hearts and Minds, back after the Easter break is on BBC2 NI tonight at 10pm. “And as the Commons debates the humpty dumpty legislation to put the Assembly together again, we ask Peter Hain why he thinks the November deadline will work. Can the Orange order ever regain a credible voice? A corruscating criticism of the Order by a senior member paints a picture of an organisation in disarray. We debate its claims”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. …

A busy autumn ahead

Pete Baker on April 25, 2006, 2:51 pm

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No doubt with an eye on Noel McAdams article, the Belfast Telegraph has a look ahead towards that November 24 deadline and assesses the DUP’s apparent new attitude.. and what it could mean for the prospects of successful devolution. One thing that is certain [about the only thing that’s certain – Ed], as Mick pointed out, is the necessary tentativeness of the speculation. From the Belfast Telegraph – If the DUP is convinced that the IRA has abandoned criminality, as …

A shared space, well not quite yet…

Mick Fealty on April 24, 2006, 3:37 pm

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Someone (the online version comes without a byline) in the Sunday Independent is unimpressed with Gerry Adams’ apparently more emolient tone towards Unionists recently. They cite a recent debate in Strabane District Council in which the party used its dominant position to adopt its own party position on the unification of Ireland, in spite of opposition from all the other parties. I hope I’m wrong, but I still believe Sinn Fein strategy is to talk peace, yet destabilise Northern Ireland …

No Republican feeling in Britain..

Mick Fealty on April 23, 2006, 2:46 pm

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Agnes Poirier says the British should not envy France’s republicanism, (“it’s exhausting and dangerous”) but instead they should be happy monarchists. 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

Happy St George’s Day!

Mick Fealty on April 23, 2006, 12:53 pm

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It’s St George’s Day, according to the BBC patron saint of: Aragon; Catalonia; England; Genoa; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Istanbul; Lithuania; Moscow; Palestine; Portugal; and Venice. Also riders; saddle makers; saddlers; sheep; shepherds; soldiers; and the Teutonic Knights. He was adopted by England after Henry V’s victory at Agincourt. Although noteably much lower key than St Patrick’s Day there are a number of related events in London. One Islamic contributor to PM yesterday (the editor of emel Magazine)argued that such a …