I was on the Nolan Show this morning, talking about the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonnell, and the statement he made in 2003. What statement? Why, the one where he commended the courage of IRA men like Bobby Sands and said it was their part in the conflict that had brought the British […]
September, 2015
IT CAN GET MESSY
It can get messy.You wouldn’t expect honey not to be sticky, mind.It would be an odd world if honey wasn’t sweet and glutinous, wouldn’t it? What you might n’t expect is that although you might take every precaution and cover every available surface with newspapers, somehow some of that unctuous tackyness will stick to your […]
Selling a book and pressed for time
Picture by Giovanni Arteaga I was listening this morning to Róisín Ingle of the Irish Times on BBC Raidio Uladh/Radio Ulster. She was talking to Karen Patterson about the fact – mentioned yesterday by Perkin – that she’d had an abortion. Róisín appeared to indicate that she’d become pregnant after a one-night stand and that […]
THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY
As unionism continues to pretzel itself into more and more convoluted political shapes and cavorts around the Stormont playground in ever-decreasing circles , it might be timely to have a good look at their track record and their place in history. It was brought to mind when I was reading about Jeremy Corbyn and how […]
Gerry Adams and Jeremy Corbyn and what matters in politics
Picture by David Hardman Sometimes the appetite of journalists for the trivial – or the appetite that journalists think the public have for the trivial – is breath-taking. This morning, considerable air time was devoted on radio to Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to sing the British national anthem at a service to mark the 75th anniversary […]
A POOL OF POLITICAL GRIEF
Martin McGuinness has stated in reference to the recent murders of republicans in Belfast : that “the murders had “created problems” for Sinn Fein and Mr Robinson”……and that “The roots of this is two murders and the people who are responsible for those murders are either criminals, agents, dissidents – they are certainly not supporters […]
Cherry picking and journalists found wanting
Picture by Pete Riches Ever wonder why, when they swear in a […]
P Rogue’s cunning plan
Picture by May Williams P Rogue: I have an idea. A Renegade: Oh good, P ! I love it when you have ideas. P Rogue: Remember that interview where you ticked off the interviewer and said you’d be staying at your post to avoid the possibility of a rogue Shinner or a renegade SDLPer damaging Northern Ireland? […]
JAPES AND GAGS IN NORNEVERLAND , THAT LAND OF FUN THAT TIME FORGOT
After a week of jokes, japes and stunts in Norneverland politics, nothing much has changed. Unionism has found its joke book of stale gags again at the bottom of that dusty box in the attic, after losing it for awhile . The jokes and clowning might be old and raddled but they worked alright back […]
Jeremy Corbyn: Labour leader OK, but PM?
Picture by Antrim Lens One of the dumbest questions I’ve heard asked (or do I mean responded to?) is: has Jeremy Corbyn got what it takes to be Prime Minister? That’s a bit like saying ‘Do you want a united Ireland?’ It depends on when you’re talking about. If you ask me do I want […]