Confident Mike Nesbitt challenges UUP party faithful on cold spots like same sex marriage and Irish #UUP15

REVIEW of the Ulster Unionist Party conference, at times self-indulgent as the party celebrated their success at Westminster but with an emphasis on how they are distinct from other unionist parties. Challenges to the party faithful about being on the wrong side of history over attitudes on same-sex marriage, some policy ideas and reassurance from the Shadow Secretary of State.

Jeremy Corbyn: Divisive on all fronts?

WILL CORBYN DIVIDE ULSTER: the new Labour leader’s politics have become a source of concern for unionists, some of whom doubt his ability to be bi-partisan. How will that affect party policy and how UK Labour is viewed in Northern Ireland?

Vernon Coaker is back as Shadow NI Secretary

Jeremy Corbyn has appointed Vernon Coaker (Yvette Cooper backer) as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary. Coaker served in the position before from 2010-13. He was previously Shadow Defence Secretary in the latter years of the Miliband era. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

The revolving door of NI ministers at Westminster spins once more

Local Conservative and Labour groups reacted to reshuffles in the NIO and shadow NI teams. At 17:01 NI Conservatives’ co-chair, Trevor Ringland issued a three paragraph statement to thank outgoing minister of state Mike Penning and welcome incoming Andrew Robathan. Until we find out more about Andrew Robathan [Ed – Political Scrapbook website called him a “blue dinosaur”] it’ll be noted that he’s an ex-Coldstream Guard who also served with the SAS … replacing an ex- Grenadier Guard and ex-fireman …

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Accepting Northern Ireland is part of the UK is what nationalists signed up for…

It’s worth noting Vernon Coaker’s intervention, which is a reminder to both sets of ‘leaders’ in Northern Ireland of the basis of the Belfast Agreement back in 1998:  “I can’t help but think that to overcome the setbacks, we almost need to establish first principles again, the sort that were enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. “Nationalists and republicans need to show that they accept Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom while the majority of people who live …

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