Northern Ireland
Discussion
soupdragon1 said:
I think I will be keeping an eye on the Fermanagh and Omagh council over the coming term.
Sinn Fein have an outright majority on that council, with 21 of 40 seats I think. Their decision making on that council will be interesting for how they are selling their 'first minister for all' slogan.
If they put their big boy pants on and manage that council appropriately, it could work well for them. There is no doubt that as soon as they step out of line with unionists that it would be amplified as a wider view of what Sinn Fein stand for and that they can't be trusted by unionists.
Overall though, its possibly a great opportunity for the party if they play their cards right. If they don't, it could maybe set them back a bit.
I've never voted for Sinn Fein and doubt I ever will, but I would still like to see them as a progressive, modern party and put a bit of daylight between them and the DUP, who could be left looking a bit backward in comparison.
Doug Beattie IMO has the right strategy for unionism, but its the voters that are the problem, rather than the party (as bizarre as that sounds)
Agree with your last paragraph. Sinn Fein have an outright majority on that council, with 21 of 40 seats I think. Their decision making on that council will be interesting for how they are selling their 'first minister for all' slogan.
If they put their big boy pants on and manage that council appropriately, it could work well for them. There is no doubt that as soon as they step out of line with unionists that it would be amplified as a wider view of what Sinn Fein stand for and that they can't be trusted by unionists.
Overall though, its possibly a great opportunity for the party if they play their cards right. If they don't, it could maybe set them back a bit.
I've never voted for Sinn Fein and doubt I ever will, but I would still like to see them as a progressive, modern party and put a bit of daylight between them and the DUP, who could be left looking a bit backward in comparison.
Doug Beattie IMO has the right strategy for unionism, but its the voters that are the problem, rather than the party (as bizarre as that sounds)
Ultimately unionists need to reach out to "soft nationalists " and persuade us that a better future can be had in some sort of hybrid N.I.than as part of a united Ireland.
Personally I think it probably can be. At present the Republic is on the crest of an economic wave but that could change very quickly. I hope not but who knows?
ArmaghMan said:
Ultimately unionists need to reach out to "soft nationalists " and persuade us that a better future can be had in some sort of hybrid N.I.than as part of a united Ireland.
They had 100 years and not once did they ever reach out to nationalists. It just isn’t in them. Their in built majority is gone and they cannot accept it. Danny Kennedy of the UUP, the same party that oversaw one party rule. One day unionism will become self aware. One day.
https://twitter.com/Planet_Belfast/status/16599599...
Those advocating constitutional change win, again.
And the ground rules are reconsidered, again.
Go figure, again.
https://twitter.com/DarranMarshall/status/16618584...
And the ground rules are reconsidered, again.
Go figure, again.
https://twitter.com/DarranMarshall/status/16618584...
Interesting blog by Alliance ex-leader Lord Alderdice on unionism, Britain’s faded attachment to NI and greater importance of British-Irish relations.
‘The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was the last best hope for unionists, and they failed to build on it.’
https://lordalderdice.com/2023/05/28/its-all-over-...
‘The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was the last best hope for unionists, and they failed to build on it.’
https://lordalderdice.com/2023/05/28/its-all-over-...
P. ONeill said:
Interesting blog by Alliance ex-leader Lord Alderdice on unionism, Britain’s faded attachment to NI and greater importance of British-Irish relations.
‘The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was the last best hope for unionists, and they failed to build on it.’
https://lordalderdice.com/2023/05/28/its-all-over-...
I dare say that quite a few Unionist voters, voted against the Agreement because they didn't agree with the early-release of Loyalist and Republican prisoners.‘The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was the last best hope for unionists, and they failed to build on it.’
https://lordalderdice.com/2023/05/28/its-all-over-...
Getting around to watching the recent BBC docuseries on the troubles:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65638...
Some very brave and open interviewees on it.
M.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65638...
Some very brave and open interviewees on it.
M.
This is bizarre beyond the realms of belief:
"Gene Simmons: Kiss star calls for Stormont restoration"
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65837...
"Gene Simmons: Kiss star calls for Stormont restoration"
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65837...
P. ONeill said:
Say, during the 1990 Poll Tax protests, unarmed civilians were shot dead by the British Army.
Then today, the British Government amended the law so it no longer applied to these deaths.
Imagine and hold that thought for one moment.
I don't need to imagine it; it happened as part of the GFA, murderers were set free or given letters guaranteeing them that the law would not pursue them. I didn't like that either.Then today, the British Government amended the law so it no longer applied to these deaths.
Imagine and hold that thought for one moment.
It's a sandwich which we were all required to eat whole, no picking the bits we preferred and leaving the the gherkins at the side of the plate.
Mortarboard said:
Well, if the OO is that aggrieved bybthe comments, perhaps they could organize a March?
M.
I was going to post the joke earlier about Braverman apologising to Hamas for comparing them to the Orange Order, but then this happened…..M.
https://twitter.com/MacgMairtin/status/17234213184...
P. ONeill said:
Mortarboard said:
Well, if the OO is that aggrieved bybthe comments, perhaps they could organize a March?
M.
I was going to post the joke earlier about Braverman apologising to Hamas for comparing them to the Orange Order, but then this happened…..M.
https://twitter.com/MacgMairtin/status/17234213184...
k me.You really couldn’t make this crap up.
1) 300,000 idiots marching in outrage about Israel
2) Yaxley-Lennon doing his goon squad nonsense
O.O. turns up:
‘Hold my beer’.
What a day.
Ridgemont said:
P. ONeill said:
Mortarboard said:
Well, if the OO is that aggrieved bybthe comments, perhaps they could organize a March?
M.
I was going to post the joke earlier about Braverman apologising to Hamas for comparing them to the Orange Order, but then this happened…..M.
https://twitter.com/MacgMairtin/status/17234213184...
k me.You really couldn’t make this crap up.
1) 300,000 idiots marching in outrage about Israel
2) Yaxley-Lennon doing his goon squad nonsense
O.O. turns up:
‘Hold my beer’.
What a day.
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