People Before Profit is neither Orange nor Green – hooray!…But hey, wait a minute…

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Well, that was interesting. Or maybe not. Just as the south’s election finally gets decided in the form of a new/second-hand government, the weeks of noiseless campaigning up north have come to a muted climax, as the winners beam and the losers try not to look as though someone had put a hole in their chest.

In terms of coverage and comment, the election of People Before Profit candidates Gerry Carroll in West Belfast and Eamonn McCann in Derry have been the Big Story. Fed up with the main parties and the lack of change in their lives (and maybe even because they were bored looking at the same old faces), the electorate in those two places elected a pair of radicals.  Gerry Carroll has done extraordinarily well in West Belfast, but it’s  my former classmate Eamonn McCann that I find most interesting. For nearly forty years he’s been saying the same words that got him elected last night.His success vaporizes the lazy claim that madness is when you repeat the same action over and over again and expect a different outcome. He’s repeated the action of seeking election since he was in his twenties, and failing. Now he’s in his seventies and the same action has won him a seat. Nice one, Eamonn.

Like everybody else, I think Carroll/McCann will bring a bit of colour and bite to Stormont proceedings. Jim Allister may even end up feeling a teensy bit miffed by their presence.  Given the choice between getting a quotation from, say, Eamonn McCann or Jim Allister, which do you think the average journalist would choose? Right, me too.

Last night McCann reminded journalists and viewers that the People Before Profit candidates were under instruction that their opening remarks  on the door step should be the declaration of their name, that they were neither Orange nor green, and  that they were respectfully asking for the householder’s vote. Eamonn says this resonated with virtually everyone on the doorstep.

Which is to be at least partially welcomed: you can’t eat a flag, as John Hume’s da said, and there’s a lot too much deprivation in both Derry and Belfast. But that neither-Orange-nor-green thing: how does that work exactly? The PBP people appear to be saying they don’t support those who’d maintain the union and they don’t support those who’d seek to break the union. So are they planning to pretend partition isn’t there? Or that it’s something not worth bothering about? When we’ve all stopped cheering their spirited emergence, it might be worth looking at a policy statement that doesn’t appear to make sense.

The other big factor to emerge from the election was a matter  we  knew about already: the decline in numbers of those who get out and vote. There’s no doubt that the unionist parties (mainly the DUP) are appealing to a shrinking electorate, yet they’ve done as well or better than ever. There’s also little doubt that nationalist parties ( especially Sinn Féin) are appealing to a growing electorate, yet the SF/SDLP vote has gone down by around 5%. I wouldn’t expect a unionist to admit it, but that’s a perversion of democracy. If democracy is government of the people, for the people, by the people, then government of the people, for the people, by just over 50% of the nationalist people is going to get democracy a bad name. Maybe it’s time compulsory voting was established, so that government by the people (or their representatives) is a reality, not a pious aspiration.

Beyond that, how’s this for irony. At the point where the nationalist population is on the brink of doing something about the partition of Ireland, that population decides nah, it’s not worth going down to the local voting centre for. Nationalism/republicanism has several enemies, but the biggest and most threatening is the decision by so many in its own community to stay at home scratching themselves.

Can you imagine how pleased violent republicanism must be feeling this morning? Because they did tell us: “Entering politics will never bring you a united Ireland”. Now that is a bad result for all of us.

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89 Responses to People Before Profit is neither Orange nor Green – hooray!…But hey, wait a minute…

  1. Seán Mór May 7, 2016 at 9:34 am #

    Personally, living in a broadly nationalist community, i have seen a growing disenchantment, alienation and disengagement from the discourse and institutions established under, and since, the GFA. So your latter point resonates strongly with me, Jude.

    • Simon July 25, 2016 at 8:52 pm #

      Classmate?

  2. Sherdy May 7, 2016 at 9:39 am #

    Congratulations to Gerry Carroll and Eamonn McCann on their election!
    Let this be an object lesson to Sinn Fein not to take the people for granted.
    Since entering into government with the DUP they have softened their stance on many subjects where their voters would have preferred them to be much more strident in their demands.
    They want to be seen as the ‘nice guys (and gals)’ despite the fact that all brands of unionism never miss an opportunity to throw mud at them, they don’t react or hit back, they just put on a false sickly smile and try to deflect the attacks, which their voters see as weakness.
    If there are any thinkers in Sinn Fein they will learn from this kick up the ass by PBP and realise that voters don’t want their representatives to be subservient to unionists!
    They need to get up off their knees and show some self-respect.

  3. BYC May 7, 2016 at 10:04 am #

    PBP might not be Orange or Green but it is an all-Ireland party set up by the socialist workers Jude and while it might not be “nationalist” it does claim to be anti-imperialist. Which is pretty much the same thing. The Greens an all-Ireland party too. You’re worrying too much. So far overtly Catholic nationalist parties have lost to two secular all-Ireland and potentially cross-community movements; Democratic Socialism and Environmentalism. That’s what the trend to Irish unity should look like.

    With Labour staying out of the South’s government this time round and the U.K. Labour wannabes get ting nowhere maybe there’s some hope for the building of a more mainstream all-Ireland social democratic party too.

    Chin up Jude.

    • Jude Collins May 7, 2016 at 10:23 am #

      I think you’ve got it pretty well right, BYC – except for the bit about me being worried…I find it difficult to understand a party (esp an all-Ireland party, as you say) that sees partition as …what? Good? Bad? Non-existent? Not worth bothering about? If it’s the last of these, I think they’re missing something pretty obvious to an awful lot of people.

      • Pointis May 8, 2016 at 11:43 pm #

        Jude they are trying to appeal to a cross-community constituency but any traction they gain will be in nationalist areas where there has always been a tradition of left wing politics. They are a reasonably new party and have probably only a skeleton constitution with a fairly narrow focus. As they mature they will be forced to take a position against sectarianism and therefore have to address the border issue.

      • Kevin Connolly October 12, 2016 at 4:32 pm #

        People Before Profit are in favour of a Socialist United Ireland – could that be any clearer? Rather than just produce smears, please feel free to ask any further questions……

        • MT October 12, 2016 at 6:16 pm #

          Why a socialist united Ireland rather than a socialist UK (or United Republic as would be)?

  4. fiosrach May 7, 2016 at 10:09 am #

    Well covered in the old saying “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” It’s hard to take a nice living from the Great White Mother’s government and then snub herself when she comes to visit. Once you’ve tasted butter it’s hard to go back to margarine. McCann’s politics may not be to everybody’s liking but at least he doesn’t lie down and roll over as part of the British establishment. Look around at everyday life in the colony. What has changed since the first Direct Rule in 1972? Well, it’s not a crime to erect a tricolour – I think. Irish language road and street signs blossom everywhere. An Irish language Act keeps us snug and warm – not. We now have segregated government not a coalition nor a shared government and the Colonial authorities hold the ring (and the purse strings) until we mature and move into the 21st century. This is Britspeak for become as British as Finchley. PBP are a flash in the pan but will entertain us and the benevolent media. Where we had the TUV circus before we now have a three ring circus. But who’s laughing?

  5. truthrevisionist May 7, 2016 at 10:45 am #

    Jude, with respect – ‘violent republicanism’ has graciously, through stealth and deception, brought us to where we are now.

    An unwinnable war, coerced by a bunch of touts and self serving liars,- effectively duped the republican community with 1916 mythology and utopian outcomes, in order to feather their ever expanding nests. We now have the grotesque sight of the ‘millionaire’ Gerry Adams swanning around west Belfast, electioneering in a beat up 15 year old car, trying to emulate grass roots impoverishment and placate suspicion, whilst he plans his post election break in his summer home in Magheroarty. Where, having just returned from his briefing with Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs, at the Hillary Clinton ‘love fest’ dinner in New York, he will write up his fawning ‘How to be a Compliant Goyim’ report. And as Gerry Kelly flies off to his newly acquired £300k villa in Portugal, and $inn £ein landlords, restaurant owners,company directors and pub-licencees across our lovely divided country surreptitiously scrap the ‘working mans’ wage’ tenet of their election pledge, they dance merrily into Stormont hand in hand with the DUP.

    Isn’t the Sinn Fein peace project wonderful? – If you can get a job in it.

    Jude with great respect, -No wonder Irish republicans are ‘fucking’ sick !

    • Jude Collins May 7, 2016 at 10:47 am #

      Thanks for the respect, tr – I get so little of it, as you know 😉 …I meant the present group of republicans who believe physical force is necessary at present.

      • truthrevisionist May 7, 2016 at 1:37 pm #

        Yes Jude I know you meant that.

        But what I try to draw attention to, is the self serving hypocrisy of a political party built on lies and deception, that continually exploits the sacrifices of generations of republicans and the consequences of all of Irelands’ dead, to prop up a ‘Bankers’state’ administered from a boardroom in Tel-Aviv.
        All of these ‘sham democracies’ in the west have one thing in common.The illusion of freedom. The only freedom we have, is the ‘freedom to shop’. To spend,- to acquire debt, to become slaves to the debt and genuflect to our masters.
        So forget a United Ireland,- its an El Dorado story, proffered by the people who control the purse strings -the Bloombergs, Soros’,Bernanke’s Solomons, Silvermans, Rothschilds, Warburgs, Sassoons, Schiffs etc. -all part owners of the Federal Reserve private bank.
        Why do you think they parachuted their mates, James Ruben, Richard Perle, Nancy Soderberg, Richard Haas, Mitchell Reiss, Paula Dobriansky etc. in – under the guise of ‘peace envoys’ – to copper fasten the so called ‘Peace Process? Is this all coincidental or conspiritorial?
        And whilst the republican community in Ireland are fed the lies that Adams and co. are in the US collecting donations from rich catholic Americans, yearning for a United Irish Republic, we should be told the truth by SF, – that the reason for all of this deceit, is a sycophantic reverence to their paymasters and the collection of their next set of instructions.

        • Jude Collins May 7, 2016 at 3:44 pm #

          Come on now, tr – time to get off the fence…

        • Ryan May 7, 2016 at 11:41 pm #

          TruthRevisionist, in all sincerity, I was very happy and relieved to have seen your comment. Why? because people like you are in very short supply in Ireland and it was refreshing to see someone who has their eye on the ball and sees the greater picture. We need more people like you who can see the facts.

          I class myself as an Irish Republican and that’s certainly true. But what I’m REALLY at heart is a factualist. Most people now days ignore facts out of fear or political correctness. I’m Irish to my core but the Universe doesn’t end at the borders of Ireland, there’s far greater things at work in the world that influences Irish society more than anything the Dail or Stormont churns out.

    • chris May 7, 2016 at 11:32 am #

      “self serving liars..And as Gerry Kelly flies off to his newly acquired £300k villa in Portugal,”!!

  6. giordanobruno May 7, 2016 at 10:47 am #

    It is good to see PBP doing well (and the Greens) and hopefully they will bring a new voice to our stale politics.
    I don’t think people mind too much about their stance on the constitutional issue. We all know that will be decided in a referendum regardless of party political positions.
    My guess is people who voted for them see the big two as the establishment now and they want someone to poke that establishment.
    I don’t agree that there is a perversion of democracy going on, its just democracy.
    Perhaps the rise in nationalists that Jude assumes is really just a rise in the Catholic population and we can no longer assume the two are the same.

    • Ryan May 7, 2016 at 5:31 pm #

      “We all know that will be decided in a referendum regardless of party political positions.”

      Just as long as the Good Friday Agreement lasts Gio, which I don’t think it will. As one Labour MP pointed out in a letter to the Newsletter a few weeks ago: the Good Friday Agreement will be invalid if Britain leaves the EU, which I personally think WILL happen. If you watched Question Time on Thursday (with Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary on the panel) the Pro-Leave group hammered the Pro-EU panellists. Indeed the only arguments for Britain to stay in the EU were purely economic, many of the economic arguments were murky, debatable and nothing more than scaremongering. The Pro-EU gang squirmed when it was revealed the EU need Britain a lot more than Britain needs the EU and Britain does most of its trade with the rest of the World.

      If I was British I would definitely vote to leave the EU. A country cant be independent whilst in the EU. Pro-EU groups like to portray the EU as an economic entity, it is to a great extent but its also a POLITICAL entity. The ultimate aim of the EU is to create a United States of Europe. If Britain, or Ireland for that matter, wants to become a mere state answerable to Berlin or Brussels then by all means stay. In Ireland’s case that would be Ireland jumping from the British Union into a European Union, the only difference? Power over Ireland is in Berlin, not London.

      As James Connolly said: “We serve neither King nor KAISER, only Ireland”.

      • MT May 8, 2016 at 2:30 pm #

        “Just as long as the Good Friday Agreement lasts Gio, which I don’t think it will. As one Labour MP pointed out in a letter to the Newsletter a few weeks ago: the Good Friday Agreement will be invalid if Britain leaves the EU, ”

        What utter nonsense

        • Ryan May 8, 2016 at 9:03 pm #

          Indulge us with your genius and explain your reasoning, MT, we just cant get enough……

          • MT May 8, 2016 at 9:51 pm #

            “Indulge us with your genius and explain your reasoning, MT, we just cant get enough……”

            You’re the one making the claim so the onus is on you to explain your reasoning. Why would the GFA need to be renegotiated if the UK left the EU?

          • MT May 10, 2016 at 5:57 pm #

            So Ryan can’t explain why the GFA would need to be renegotiated if the UK left the EU.

            That’ll be because it’s completely nonsensical suggestion

    • Ryan May 7, 2016 at 5:54 pm #

      “Jude assumes is really just a rise in the Catholic population and we can no longer assume the two are the same”

      Forgot to ask Gio, can we assume that all Protestants are Unionists? Unionists even use the term “PUL Community”……Protestant Unionist Loyalist Community.

      Why cant we assume that all Catholics are Republicans but we can assume all Protestants are Unionists? (even though Protestants are MUCH more likely to vote cross community than Catholics. Indeed Sinn Fein’s Mairtin O’Mullieor only got elected to the Assembly yesterday thanks to two Unionist transfer votes! without them he wouldn’t have got elected!)

      Unionists in the past certainly didn’t see any difference between Catholics and Republicans. Loyalist terrorist groups made clear they didn’t (and still don’t) see any difference between Catholics and Republicans.

      UUP Deputy Leader John Taylor once said: “The harsh reality is is that most Catholics you will meet are Republicans, supporters of the IRA or are an IRA gunman themselves”.

      Its strange just when Catholics are becoming the majority that SUDDENLY all Catholics are not republicans…..just like in many topics, Unionists deem to be in denial here.

      With the exception of Fermanagh/South Tyrone (which has a Unionist representative due to a Unionist pact and the SDLP splitting the vote) is there a single Catholic majority area with a non-nationalist representative? Is there a Catholic majority area that has a Unionist/Non Nationalist majority on their council? I don’t think so…..in a BBC poll done in 2012, only 1% of Catholics said they would consider voting for the DUP and 0% would consider voting for the UUP……

      So all the evidence suggests Catholics ARE Republicans.

      • giordanobruno May 7, 2016 at 7:04 pm #

        Ryan
        You are doing a great job pulling down that strawman.
        I never said all protestants are unionists, nor would I,since I know they are not.
        I know prods who are republican and I know catholics who are unionist. So unless I am the only guy here with such interesting friends (which I doubt) I would say we cannot designate the entire catholic population as republican and neither you nor I know the leanings of the 50% that do not vote.
        Such assumptions are starting to look very out of date.

        As to your other post about the GFA we will see.
        I do not think there will be a Brexit.
        And if there is I am not sure it must lead to a renegotiation of the agreement.
        And if it did I don’t see how the result would be much different from the GFA.
        What kind of arrangement do you think might replace it?

        • Ryan May 7, 2016 at 11:19 pm #

          I understand your point about its maybe a little unwise to regard all Catholics/Protestants as Republicans/Unionists Gio, especially given 50% don’t vote but the reality is we know the overwhelming majority of Catholics that DO vote are republicans and the overwhelming majority of protestants that DO vote are unionists. But that doesn’t mean the Catholics/Protestants that don’t vote are a mixture of both or have different views, the reality is we just don’t know but I’d be prepared to bet my last pretty penny that if everyone was forced to vote we would have roughly the same voting patterns as we have now. The main reasons why the other 50% don’t vote is a combination of laziness, indifference or because they don’t see anyone who reflects their views.

          Putting the history/causes to one side, I get this feeling that most of us deny that Catholics are mostly Republicans and Protestants are mostly Unionists because we cant accept that our society is deeply sectarian. Its not a nice thing to think about. But closing your eyes and putting your fingers in your ears wont change anything, facts are facts, I accept them whatever they are.

          On the GFA topic, the GFA would be void if the Brits pull out Gio, there’s no doubt about that, a new Agreement would have to be made, as Chris Donnelly said it would be “Good Friday Agreement Mark II”. I honestly don’t know what would replace it but It would be different to what we have now because the current political landscape is different today than in 1998, the DUP now heads Unionism, not the UUP, and SF now heads Nationalism, not the SDLP.

          • giordanobruno May 8, 2016 at 12:44 pm #

            Ryan
            I think you are more or less agreeing with me.
            We do not know how the current non voters might vote. As you say I suspect that on the whole they would break down similarly to those who do vote.

            However there may be a significant minority who do not stick to their designated boxes and that minority could be enough to throw off simple notions of 50% +1 catholic equalling 50%+1 nationalist (or 50%+1 in favour of UI).

            We need to start thinking outside those boxes and not make lazy assumptions.
            The success of PBP should highlight that lesson for the big sectarian parties.

            On the GFA I note you cannot really say how a new agreement would be different and I think that is because it would be fundamentally the same, perhaps with some tinkering around cross border bodies etc.
            It will still surely include an option on a referendum for a UI.

            Personally I would like to see that having a clear trigger point (eg a nationalist FM) rather than having it remain in the gift of the SoS, but that is what Sinn Fein signed up to.

      • MT May 8, 2016 at 2:31 pm #

        “Indeed Sinn Fein’s Mairtin O’Mullieor only got elected to the Assembly yesterday thanks to two Unionist transfer votes! without them he wouldn’t have got elected!)”

        More nonsense.

        • Ryan May 8, 2016 at 9:07 pm #

          Oh MT, where would I be without your genius to keep me on the intellectual straight and narrow? I would be going off the rails…..and you do this without even the need to explain your reasoning, just two words is all that is needed. I would be lost without you MT…..

  7. Conchubhair May 7, 2016 at 11:03 am #

    I’m not sure Gerry Carroll’s election is as big a story as made out. If anyone had examined his voting base growing over the years then it was telegraphed some time ago. I don’t doubt that Gerry Carroll has built a strong and youthful base but judging by his transfers heading predominantly to the SDLP there is an element of that base that is presumably based on anyone but SF. The story here is whether the SDLP base has moved to someone they percieve as able to pursue delivery vigourously and/or is there an element of disenchanted former SF supporters bloodying the nose of a party they may have formally stood beside – ironically for a party that is neither orange nor green.

    I would agree that a major story is the shrinking nationalist turnout. I think this leads to what may be one of the biggest stories i.e. the near miss of a highly imbalanced executive makeup that may have undermined the perception of effective power sharing and facilitating the narrative of those who point to the ineffectiveness of a political, as opposed to military, strategy.

    Tied to this, and not to be overlooked, is how closely Frank McCoubrey came to taking a seat and Arlene Foster’s support of him irrespective of his tight association and stage sharing with loyalist paramilitaries in past. This isn’t to say that these groups should not have political representation or that they should be political pariahs beyond the pale of discussion. It should bring light, however, to the hypocrisies evident in unionism regarding who talks,or doesn’t talk, with whom, and why. Perhaps a starting point for SF to reengage nationalists is to challenge these stances more visibly before their electorate. The DUP are clear on message and tight to their voting base. A dose of the same for nationalists might not be a step too far.

  8. Iolar May 7, 2016 at 11:13 am #

    Fidel Castro once declined to vote for a mayor. His decision was not based on the mayor’s politics. It was based on the fact that there were lots of potholes on the roads. Prior to the election in the six counties, the level of political debate was banal. The electorate did not appear to care for the culinary skills of some politicians, or the drip feed from twitter tweets. Some elected representatives are now considering a formal opposition in the legislative assembly. That is all we need at present, deeper potholes. Elected representatives know which side their bread is buttered on, however, they may not know the price of bread. The voice of People Before Profit will give elected representatives much food for thought.

  9. fiosrach May 7, 2016 at 12:34 pm #

    At least Sinn Féin will have given some comfort to the LGBT and the husband and husband community. I wonder how many voted for Sinn Féin?

    • truthrevisionist May 7, 2016 at 2:20 pm #

      Well fiosrach, not too many voted for the transvestite Ellen Murray standing for Green Party in West Belfast. Wonder is she/he a binary or non-binary transvestite and how he/she stands on the North Carolina toilet debate.- An important issue coming to a town near you – soon !
      You can be sure SF will make political capital out of it.

      • giordanobruno May 8, 2016 at 9:43 am #

        truthrevisionist
        Ellen Murray is transgender I believe, not transvestite.

        • truthrevisionist May 9, 2016 at 12:48 am #

          Gio,

          Any man who achieves sexual pleasure and personal gratification from dressing in women’s underwear and outer garments and cavorting in a manner likely to be of a degenerate influence on children and offensive to society in general – IS a ‘Transvestite’ -whether they have had their male genitalia removed or not. A castrated Bull does not become a dairy cow, – no matter how much you try to convince yourself.

          Open your mind and wander off the reservation Gio and stop thinking like a Goyim, as your masters would have you do.

          • giordanobruno May 9, 2016 at 8:24 am #

            truthrevisionist
            I have learned not to judge people by what they wear.
            Your judgement is much too harsh and you clearly have some issues.
            Try getting out more.

  10. meh May 7, 2016 at 1:40 pm #

    if the “church” insist that all Catholics sit on the left side of the isle and all Protestants on the right, don’t be surprised if those not minded to do so don’t bother attending at all. Cumann na nGaedheal for the occupied six?

    i’ll just get me coat..

  11. Perkin Warbeck May 7, 2016 at 2:28 pm #

    What a night that was for the McCanndidate, Esteemed Blogmeister, all the same: not only did he top the headlines (not least in The Unionist Times) but also his beloved Candystripes won a stirring One-Nil victory over the Saints.

    The latter result being as close to his heart as the election itself – he said so himself.

    So, cue Congratulations and Jubilations all the way from Camacside to Foyleside ! Where no doubt the Bushy-tailed celebrants did their legendary take on the, erm, Liverdance from Brandywell, to, well, back again to Brandywell till the wee hours of the night, the Night to Remember.

    Now, Richmond Park is not the least interesting, erm, stadium in the Free Southern Stateen. Apart from its location on the right bank of the under-rated River Camac. Which situation once necessitated a long-poled fishing net for the retrieval of the occasional canted , wet, heavy, Alzheimer-responsible leather football of yore.

    It is also located under the bulky grey hulk of Kilmainham Jail. But that is a tiresome factoid which would be of not the slightest interest at all to the McCanndidate – he said so himself. Much too green, don’t you know.

    Richmond Park itself is called after the other imposing edifice on the other side of the ‘stadium’. That would be the near contemporary of the jail, Richmond Barracks which in its earlier turn was named for the Duke of Richmond who was the King’s Chief Scout in Ireland at the time. Whose flighty wifey it was who organized the Ball on the eve of Waterloo which was later immortalized by Thackeray in ‘Vanity Fair’.

    Now, the McCanndidate would have no truck with that grim, grey edifice neither – too orange, don’t you know. He said so himself.

    This Richmond Barracks, btw, is in no way to be confused with the former Richmond Barracks in Templemore, County Tipperary. While it is generally known as the Garda Training College it’s actual official name is (gulp) McCan Barracks.

    Apart from there being only one n in his surname Pierce McCan (for it was he !) is in no way related to the McCanndidate , being far too verdant for that. A less than enthusiastic fan of the Crown Forces, he died in chokey after 1916, that sort of thingy.

    But, stay, a word or two before you go.

    If the Duchess of Richmond was into Balls with a big B, the Duke himself was big into balls of the smaller size, albeit of the cricket variety. He was an accomplished right-hand bat and a noted wicket keeper. Indeed, the sporty duke would have both aimed and tamed a fair few googlies on the grounds of Highbury House in North London during his heyday.
    Highbury ?

    Yes, indeed, ancestral home of Arsenal F.C. – the very home of his beloved Gunners and, according to the McCanndidate, erm, Common Decency itself. He wrote so himself – in his solemn column in The Unionist Times.

    Eh ?

    His beloved Gunners ? What about the Candystripes, then ? No probs: for the otherwise colourless McCanndiate, red is the new g.o.o. (green or orange). It’s a no frontiers, football sorta thingy.

    As was evident from the following oft-repeated Peter Pan-type mantra of the McCanndidate during the champagne-popping campaign:

    -A vote for the Marginalised by the Marginalised.

    Quite, so.

    Now Marginalised both rhymes with, and is a synonym of the Over-charge-inalised.
    And guess where the most Over-charge-inalised football fans in the whole wide, no frontiers world of global football to be found ?

    Why (gulp) in the seats and on the terraces (if any) in the Emirates (nee Highbury) Stadium. In a report published in The Telegraph (not to be confused with his beloved Bel Tel) the following appeared:

    -Arsenal are now charging ten times more for their cheapest seasons ticket than Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

    All together now: Eamo the Emir abu ! The McCanndidate who can make n’s meet abu !

    So, how to square this particular rhombus ?

    Is it because the Arsenal are more than ten times (10) successful than Barcelona and Bayern Munich ?

    Or.

    Or, is it because their bainisteoir, whom the lapdog with a laptop McCanndidate has described as (gulp) ‘the embodiment of common decency’ is on a neat little, but well merited earner of nine million squids (9) a year ?

    What can all this mean?

    Could it be, perchance, that there is the following scenario going down: if Aunty Austerity had footballs she’d prove to be a right carbuncle on Uncle Arsene’s arse ?

    Perhaps the solution to this minor conundrum lies in the reluctance (marked ) of the prophet of the People Before Profiteers to use the term ‘soccer’. Preferring as he does the (gasp) imperialist word for same: FOOTBALL.

    So, why his reluctance to use the term most commonly in use in the traditional, per-Premier era of Merchandise Utd v Mercenary City ?

    Could it possibly be found in the lingo so beloved of another Londonderry lad – Leprechaun and Gregory of the Crooked Mouth, respectively?

    Consider the following: the Leprechaun for prophet is (gulp, gasp and sigh)……sochar.
    Not only is it spelled un-McCannily like but is also pronounced un-McCannily like – soccer.

    Soccer, formerly the game of the docker, has long sinc e gone and lost the run of itself, and now prefers to dress up in, erm, a suit, collar and tie and call itself Football, aka The Booytful Gme.

    He says so himself.

    Congratulations and Jubilations, he wants the world to know he’s as happy as he McCann be.

    • Perkin Warbeck May 7, 2016 at 5:34 pm #

      PS

      Oops, Esteemed Blogmeister, one’s inner Grammar School mistress (aka Our Lady of Perpetual Succour) has just pointed out that prophet rather than profit somehow slipped in as being the Q’ S English for ‘sochar’ .

      For which, an ultra-mea culpa.

      One has no excuses, apart from being a being an incorrigible sucker for punitive puns to do with soccer, profit, prophet, both the Sons of and also, Ronnie Prophet.

      Speaking of country singers:

      You’re right, I’m left, she’s gone

      PBP may well be to the Left , you might
      Say,of Lefty Frizzell, in C. or Fahrenheit
      For them, Pounds , Bobs, Pence
      The only things to make sense
      At the end of the day, they may well be Right.

  12. Argenta May 7, 2016 at 3:02 pm #

    No doubt,as Eamon is a former classmate of yours,you’ll make an exception and favour him(even though he’s a non S F politician) with one of your Periscope interviews..It would certainly make for interesting listening though you might find it difficult to get a word in edge ways !!

    • Jude Collins May 7, 2016 at 3:41 pm #

      That’s an interesting thought, Argenta – thanks for passing it on. I might have to fight my way through a ruck of photographers…You’ll have to concentrate, though, A – the last Periscope I did was with John McCallister…

      • Argenta May 7, 2016 at 8:21 pm #

        Jude
        I was aware of that and anticipated that his name would be trotted out as the token “unionist” to illustrate your width of vision.Don’t think you would deny that the majority of your interviewees in the last Assembly were Sinn Fein M L As.Maybe the coming years will see you interviewing members from all the parties.

        • Jude Collins May 7, 2016 at 9:22 pm #

          If you were aware of it, argie, it’s a bit odd you didn’t mention it. I am totally willing to interview any MLA or other politician, if I think s/he is agreeable and has something worth saying. I’m still waiting for an invitation from your favourite party…

          • Argenta May 8, 2016 at 9:27 pm #

            Am I right in thinking that political parties have to invite you to interview them?I had always assumed that the initiative came from yourself.

          • Jude Collins May 8, 2016 at 9:29 pm #

            In my case, sometimes one, sometimes the other – more often I respond to an invitation.

    • giordanobruno May 7, 2016 at 6:01 pm #

      Argenta
      Between Jude and Eamonn there might be rather a lot of reflected glare.
      Not sure if the camera could handle it!

  13. paddykool May 7, 2016 at 3:19 pm #

    Until voting is as compulsory as jury service, a proper democracy is not really working at all . If half the people are sitting on their arses , not bothering to do the smallest thing that a democratic society asks of them ….vote for someone to represent their objectives……they have no input into the direction of their destinies and may as well proclaim they are not even part of society.Maybe some of them on the Nationalist side don’t want to play the game because they do not support the system as it is currently set up , just as Sinn Fein will not enter Westminster for similar reasons.As for the unionist abstainers…who knows? Of course , the bottom line is that if it continues just as it is we’ll never really know what half of the population actually thinks anyway and we’ll all have to make do with what we have.
    In the end all of our conversations about why we get the kinds of poiticians we constantly vote into power may as well be a conversation about the dark arts of magick based ,as they are, on the Great Unknown fifty per cent.Do half the population not care who governs them? Do they care or even understand why that might be important to their lives? Do only half the people care whether there is a united Ireland for example or a union with britain? Do they even think about it at all? Unless the idea that we all have to vote is made law ,just as wearing a seat belt is law, we will never know.
    In the meantime we’ll just have to fumble along with this imperfect system. I’m glad someone like Eamon McCann has finally made a dent in the boring political edifice . If he was standing in my area , I’d certainly listen to what he is saying because he’s probably the most intelligent thinker available to us…and entertaining as all get go. It’s hard to beat a bit of dry wit . As you say Jude, he’s been saying the same thing since the late 1960’s but it’s only now we’ll get the chance to hear him joust with some of those nitwits in Stormont. That is worth looking forward to at least.

    • billy May 7, 2016 at 5:31 pm #

      so peelers kicking peoples doors in who dont want to vote in british elections ime sure that will go down well.

      • paddykool May 7, 2016 at 10:17 pm #

        WI’ll put it like this Billy…Do you wear a seatbelt? Do you light up a fag in a restaurant?, Do you keep to the speed limits?…..Just who do you think is making those laws? I have been asked to do jury service three times in my lifetime and the judge made it plain that anyone who didn’t turn up would get a knock on the door.Now refusal to vote in a compulsory head count might put a whole new perspective on things…

        • billy May 8, 2016 at 12:45 pm #

          hundreds of people go through jail every year for non payment of fines tv licence ect wasnt the ole turnkey ford on crying about it costing more blocking the system ect than it was worth.fines are usually 7days jail if you dont pay you cant be released on a weekend so handing themselves in on monday evening few games of pool go to the gym lie in bed wathing telly back out friday morning.now theres hundreds of thousands not voting even a small per cent not paying or unable to pay would have the system fxxked,not to mention the propaganda value in the headlines.irishmen and women held in jail for refusing to vote in british elections.sounds like something out of n/korea doesnt it.

          • paddykool May 9, 2016 at 8:53 am #

            Well that’s what I mean billy. If voting was compulsory there’s the chance that refuseniks would screw up the system by choosing gaol-time and getting themselves a nice little criminal record for their CV….but I’d say it’d be like the smoking ban and most would just scratch themselves and get on with voting .When the dust cleared we’d still have a better idea how the population was thinking ….or not..We’d have the vote-spoilers and the martyrs too but i’d say the majority would vote and it would certainly be a clearer story than the fifty percent who don’t bother at present.

          • jessica May 9, 2016 at 11:18 am #

            “When the dust cleared we’d still have a better idea how the population was thinking ”

            If it was really about knowing how the population was thinking Paddy, we would be having a joined up debate throughout this island and not simply trying to enforce isolated partitionist policies that many in particular in the north are sick off.

            Neither London or Dublin have any interest in what the people want, why should the people just plod along with something that they are very unhappy with?

            Voting means there isnt a problem when there clearly is and it is only going to get bigger.

          • billy May 9, 2016 at 11:58 am #

            why do you want to take away peoples rights not to vote and replace it with a privilege to vote,voting isnt a right when you have to register with an english government to vote in your own country.

          • jessica May 9, 2016 at 4:02 pm #

            “why do you want to take away peoples rights not to vote and replace it with a privilege to vote,voting isnt a right when you have to register with an english government to vote in your own country.”

            Well said billy.

            Like it or not 6 counties are still under foreign occupation, the same foreign occupation republicans fought to break free from 100 years ago.
            I am through voting for british establishments in Ireland.

            When it makes me sick to my stomach to vote something is badly wrong, and I almost did, I actually made it to the venue but threw my polling card in the bin and went home instead.

          • MT May 9, 2016 at 4:39 pm #

            “why do you want to take away peoples rights not to vote and replace it with a privilege to vote,voting isnt a right when you have to register with an english government to vote in your own country.”

            ‘Privilege to vote’ doesn’t make sense.

            One doesn’t have to register with ‘an English government’ to vote.

    • jessica May 8, 2016 at 10:29 am #

      “Do only half the people care whether there is a united Ireland for example or a union with britain?”

      Why should any of the people in the north give a damn about a united Ireland Paddy, when the people in the south clearly don’t?

      Sure, they may give it the thumbs up in some pointless and meaningless poll, but no one really cares if or when it happens. No one is talking about what it would look like or how it could come about so how on earth are we helping it come about by voting for a devolved British parliament at Stormont?

      In 1918, Sinn Fein stood for an independent parliament, that is simply not economically feasible with a 6 county statelet, never mind one that has been through conflict and 40 years of zero investment. I get they are doing their best and have no alternatives. The truth is, there is no alternative without the backing of the establishment in Dublin. Only Dublin can unite this island.

      As for Eamon McCann, he has no interest in unification, only ultra left wing economics that will kick unification further down the road.

  14. Mark May 7, 2016 at 4:26 pm #

    For a start, we have to hand it to Eamon, he has staying power, Sherdy above makes the point, they’re an all-Ireland party, frankly, like the green’s, I doubt they see themselves as such and shall not be holding Ard Feisheinna in BAC one year, BF the next and Doire the next.
    I firmly believe Sinn Fein, in the occupied terrority are just SDLP nua, while SDLP are just as pro union as always, regardless of what they tell us.
    The frightening thing is, even if PBP and the greens had not taken seats, nationalism would still have come in well behind the unionist bloc in terms of electorate, for those of us in favour of brit’s home, this is worrying, Gerry Adams one time prediction of reunification in his lifetime is now impossible based on these results, yes, those who preach further violence may well be emboldened, but, for ‘project Ireland, where to now, it’s less likely we can persuade the unionists, though Sinn Fein did appear to take votes in traditional unionist areas, the key problem for this project may well have been in the 45% who failed to vote, now, remind me, what was it Bobby, Francis, Ray, Patsy, Joe, Ciaran, Martin, Kevin, Tom and Mickey die for with those many others, as far back as Theobald or Tom Williams?

    • Ryan May 7, 2016 at 9:07 pm #

      Mark, an interesting comment and it raises many more questions instead of answers.

      But I ask myself: Would the election result have been different if there was more integrated housing? Of course it would. In fact many seats that are safe Unionist/Nationalist suddenly would be on the knife edge.

      When you look at areas East, South and North of Belfast they are 95% Unionist. Not surprising given very few Catholics live in these areas.

      When you look at areas like in Fermanagh, South Down, Tyrone, Derry and South Armagh they are 95% Nationalist in places and unsurprisingly they return SF/SDLP candidates. Indeed many Unionists don’t bother to contest elections in some of these areas.

      Maybe the issue here for Republicanism is lack of integrated housing. Republicans can never hope to take places like Strangford, just like Unionists can never hope to take West Belfast or South Down unless there is more emphasis put on integrated housing.

      Even if West Belfast had a million Catholic voters it would still return a few MLA’s. But if that million Catholic voters spread out and lived elsewhere then obviously it would go a long way to winning more MLA’s in different areas. The same goes for Unionists, if a large whack of the population of say Strangford or North Antrim were spread evenly and lived in places like Derry or South Down then those seats could potentially fall into Unionist hands.

      Is more integrated housing the answer? I would say it is but I expect Unionists will strongly oppose integrated housing because it will be them who will be the losers in the long run due to the way the demographics are going. The reality is Republican areas have an excess of voters that if these people lived in other areas then other seats could fall into Republican hands. If the status quo remains then I expect the political status quo to remain too.

    • jessica May 7, 2016 at 9:22 pm #

      “Sinn Fein did appear to take votes in traditional unionist areas, the key problem for this project may well have been in the 45% who failed to vote, now, remind me, what was it Bobby, Francis, Ray, Patsy, Joe, Ciaran, Martin, Kevin, Tom and Mickey die for with those many others, as far back as Theobald or Tom Williams?”

      Mark, perhaps the problem is not so much the 45% who failed to vote of which I am one, but the reason they failed to vote.

      If the project is to make Ireland north and south, little England’s to appease unionists in the hope there will be an electoral majority in favour of unification then I don’t believe that is what they died for at all. Or the rebels of 1916.

      At the moment I have very little interest in unification. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail regardless of what some say, have made no effort to unify this island for considerable time yet the vast majority of people in the south overwhelmingly vote for them. Yes, I get that local issues are key, the wishes of Irish citizens in the north are hardly any more a major concern in times of austerity than they were in times of boom. The truth is, we in the north don’t matter and unification doesn’t matter to the south.

      What I have decided is, I may be Irish but my country has been divided, not by partition but by decades of political indifference and I no longer have any affinity with Ireland in 2016. In fact it is a shit hole of an island. A corrupt and selfish south and a sectarian cess pool in the north with a myriad of opinions and a lost notion of national identity. Don’t make me laugh about any part of Ireland being a sovereign nation.

      No, I have my friends, I have my family, most people I know have given up on British politics in Ireland.

      I don’t need a country, I don’t need a nation. I no longer give a shit about the republic of Ireland. I don’t even want to be part of it.

      Gerry Adams who I once held in high regard, I now feel is nothing more than a senile old fool, tweeting crap and embarrassing himself.

      I assure you, I am not lazy and not idle but I have no interest in British politics in any part of Ireland.

      If one day, the people of Ireland look in the mirror and see the pathetic and soulless shit hole of a country that I see that it has become, and someone can somehow recreate the rebirth of passion the rebels of 1916 did, then there will be many people ready to get behind it throughout this island.

      Until then, we have Fine Gael back for another term in the south with the full backing of Fianna Fail and in the north another 5 years of 1 sided reconciliation and unionist ass kissing.

      Now tell me again, is that the fault of those who did vote or those that didnt?

      • Mark May 8, 2016 at 6:17 pm #

        Tranona oiche duit Jessica, agus daimh.
        Agree Jessica on the ‘why not’, there’s little alternative for many of us whose beliefs are for re-unification minus brit. approval, but, and one need only listen to RTE or BBC Ulster to hear the west brit agenda geared at anti-Irishness and keeping us all good little subjects, rather than citizens.
        Ryan, the idea of ‘integrated hoising’ is interesting but, while in the area I’ve lived, for twenty six years, I am no longer one of only three Catholics, the other two being my children, I earlier saw a wee lassie, in Galway top heading home, with caman following camogie practice, a sight only seen with my kid’s fifteen years ago, and my own, then, efforts to teach our oldest game to some local kids attending the local state secondary but, this is not a working class area, it is very middle professional class so the difficulty would be in getting ordinary folk to be comfortable together, something which would go amis as soon as the flags began to go up.

      • Tyronetaffe May 10, 2016 at 7:32 am #

        My sentiments exactly….no truer words spoken

      • Jim Coleman May 13, 2016 at 10:58 pm #

        Jessica,

        I’m from the South. The last serious poll said that 79% in the South want unification. The problem is the media, which for the 30 years of the Troubles blasted out anti-Irish and anti-republican nonsense (due to the ownership of the Irish media largely being in the hands of self-confessed unionist Tony O’REilly and the shoneens in the Irish Times). The media doesn’t want unification because (i) many of them come from upper class schools in the South which are highly anglicised and produce people who have a distaste for Irish culture, (which gives them a particular distaste for northern nationalists who are unashamedly Irish); (ii) they’re temperamentally conservative and they don’t like change or anything that rocks the boat; and (iii) of everything Truthrevisionist said above about who actually runs the world. The guys at the top of the top don’t want us to have our independence either. A united Ireland would be a strong Ireland. A patriotic Ireland. A beacon to the world. Nothing scares these guys more than nationalism, and a successful nationalist Ireland scares them a lot. Don’t give up hope yet Jessica. The process of unification has only just begun. Biodh misneach ort.

        • jessica May 14, 2016 at 9:13 am #

          A united Ireland would be a strong Ireland. A patriotic Ireland. A beacon to the world. Nothing scares these guys more than nationalism, and a successful nationalist Ireland scares them a lot. Don’t give up hope yet Jessica. The process of unification has only just begun. Biodh misneach ort.”

          Thank you for speaking out Jim.
          That is exactly the type of Ireland I would love to see and would work my ass off to bring about.
          If more like you don’t speak out, I fear it will take more than courage, there will be a new type of non geographic but heartfelt partition that will be much harder to reunite.

          Unification is not purely the responsibility of the north and Sinn Fein. By the southern state keeping out and failing to promote it, the people in the north are losing hope.

  15. Ryan May 7, 2016 at 5:07 pm #

    “I wouldn’t expect a unionist to admit it, but that’s a perversion of democracy”

    To be fair to Unionists its not as if they are sabotaging Republican votes or forcing republicans to stay at home when polling day comes, that’s purely the fault of Republicans themselves, Republicans like our Billy who even advocates non voting!

    Gerry Carroll topped the poll in West Belfast. I didn’t even transfer to Gerry because I don’t agree with many of his policies, yes I agree with many of his aims but I don’t think being far left is the way to go. Gerry was actually in the same year as my cousin in St Mary’s Grammar School on the Falls. I feel Gerry is no more than a protest vote. Gerry and PBP sniped at Sinn Fein from the side lines when SF agreed with the Fresh Start Agreement and profited by saying SF was “implementing tory cuts”. But what would Gerry have done if PBP were in SF’s position? If Gerry stuck by his guns we would now be faced with full tory cuts, full welfare reform and even the collapse of Stormont. Gerry being an MLA or MP would’ve made no difference. Its also important to remember that Gerry would’ve took his seat at Westminster and swore an Oath to Queen Elizabeth if he had have been elected last year, I wonder what his Republican voters would’ve thought of that?…..

    The election result is pretty much the same as in 2011, with the exception of SF/SDLP losing 3 MLA’s to Independents who hold very similar views to SF/SDLP anyway and can be depended upon when it comes to supporting petitions of concern.

    The issue here, a major issue, facing SF/SDLP is getting the Republican electorate out to vote. We have the numbers but as Jude points out, amazingly when we have the numbers laziness, idleness and indifference sets in with a sizeable number of the Republican electorate. Sinn Fein’s murky stance on abortion hasn’t helped it at all and has definitely lost it votes. The Irish people are definitely Pro-Life and SF underestimated that.

    The Unionist electorate will continue to shrink since its an aging population that will inevitably die off (but the elderly population are much more likely to vote). The Republican electorate will continue to grow and multiply since its a much younger population at child producing age. But this will all mean nothing if those republicans don’t come out to vote. SF/SDLP need to spice up elections here and quickly……

  16. RJC May 7, 2016 at 6:42 pm #

    Eamonn McCann’s victory speech is well worth watching –

    • billy May 7, 2016 at 9:47 pm #

      will he hand his other three jobs out now hes an mla,socialist an all that.

    • BYC May 7, 2016 at 10:26 pm #

      Brilliant. Stephen Rea’s endorsement is good too – especially the last bit.

    • giordanobruno May 7, 2016 at 11:12 pm #

      RJC
      Well it made me smile.
      I was reminded of Harry Hill at points.
      I hope he is right.

    • paddykool May 8, 2016 at 9:03 am #

      Totally agree RJC …and what a joy to see him stoking up “the Internationale” for a classy send-off. Eamon could bring a lot of common sense and humour to the game. You’ll really have to rustle up an interview Jude.

  17. Cal May 7, 2016 at 7:43 pm #

    The nationalist demographic is younger and therefore more likely not to vote. The opposite is true for unionism.

    Give it two or three electoral cycles and the demographic will imo be reflected in the election results.

    • MT May 8, 2016 at 2:26 pm #

      “The nationalist demographic is younger and therefore more likely not to vote. The opposite is true for unionism”

      Have you any evidence that unionists are more likely to vote than nationalists?

  18. Belfastdan May 7, 2016 at 8:51 pm #

    I agree with all that Ryan has posted. The big problem in Nationalist areas is the disengagement from the electoral process.

    If as some say PBP are a breath of fresh air how come almost 45% of those eligible to do so could not be bothered to vote? Yet these are the ones who will be most vocal in their criticism of our elected representatives.

    It is about time for compulsory voting.

    • MT May 8, 2016 at 2:20 pm #

      “The big problem in Nationalist areas is the disengagement from the electoral process.”

      Presumably the same big problem exists in Unionist areas. So why relate it only to Nationalist areas?

      • Belfastdan May 8, 2016 at 3:10 pm #

        Because in truth I am not interested or concerned aboutin the turnout in Unionist areas, but if you read my post you will see that I am in favour of compulsory voting for everyone not just Nationalists.

    • peterp June 1, 2016 at 7:06 pm #

      What has been gained by SF with unionist outreach. Unionists in Derry and South Down vote stoop to hurt SF. The only winners in this is unionists who take the gain knowing SF are carrying the water.
      In my mind before a unionist makes a decision with public money they calculate how much taigs get out of it in comparison to prods rather than simple need or fairness. Unionist outreach is to keep the taigs at bay. The only difference between a unionist of today than the past is now they have to mask their discrimination or as Arlene Foster calls it ‘gatekeeping’.
      If SF want to get the voters back onside and stop the rot perhaps a little more unrepentant fenian bastard is required.

  19. michael c May 7, 2016 at 9:52 pm #

    contrary to perceived opinion ,over 50% of Carrolls transfers actually went to SF and only 25 % to SDLP. Unionists recieved about 1% of his transfers so I think the ” appealing to both communities bit is slightly exaggerated!

  20. Antonio May 8, 2016 at 9:39 am #

    PBP are a socialist party and as such are internationalist in their outlook. By no means are they nationalists but an educated guess tells me they would be more inclined toward Irish Unity than Irish Unionism as the latter desires a State border on a small island which goes against the cooperative instincts of the socialist.

  21. Wolfe tone May 8, 2016 at 11:51 am #

    Personally speaking, the shinners will have to re evaluate how they conduct themselves within their traditional community. There is a whiff of arrogance when it comes to them dealing with some folk who may happen to disagree with their policies.
    I recently took my family to the National Graves Associations march in glasnevin cemetery on the 24th April. Despite thousands of people taking part, in fact one of the biggest I have seen in years, I was alarmed to witness a ‘republican’ flute band standing at the side of the road glowering at folk following the parade as it passed them. When someone urged them to join in one of the band members remarked that he had ‘standards’! My two daughters(young adults now) and their friends asked me why did he say that. They were offended by his comment. Alas I tried to explain that the shinners in their wisdom decided not to lend their support to this commeration and instead decided to hold an alternative parade on the same day. Hence this band is more than likely a s.f supporter band I.e its there way or no way. Alas that arrogant comment lost s.f 6 votes in an instant. Simple as that. That may be fickle but that’s the nature of the beast.
    Urging people to vote, and allow these arrogant people to be more arrogant, just to annoy unionists doesn’t wash anymore sin é.

    • Pointis May 8, 2016 at 11:20 pm #

      Wolfe if you are going to blame Sinn Fein on the attitude of a band member who may not even be a member of Sinn Fein then I am suggesting you were going to find some reason for not not voting for them!

      • Wolfe tone May 9, 2016 at 10:37 am #

        Pointis, I was merely using the band member as an example. Constructive criticism if you like. Trust me I have better examples to use if I wanted to find a reason not to vote for s.f.
        I have never told my kids who to vote but rather I hope they work it out for themselves. That tiny incident with a mouthy band member made their mind up instantly. Whether or not he was a s.f member is irrelevant as you well know.
        A former SF Lord Mayor of my town quipped to a few election workers, a few years ago, that ‘we don’t care if republicans don’t vote for us, just as long as they don’t vote for anybody else’. That arrogant dismissal of fellow republicans is no way to win votes especially when them fellow republicans have kids who will one day have a vote too. That arrogance could be coming home to roost?

  22. fiosrach May 8, 2016 at 1:33 pm #

    Like the Skibereen Eagle, I’ll keep a close watch on the British Regional Assembly for the next 5 years to see how they behave and how much my anti-Unionist vote is valued. Should I not be pleased, I will reserve my vote for the real British Election when Ms Gildernew will attempt to oust the UDR man and then I will retire from all British elections. That’ll sort them out -especially as the number of like minded are growing by the day.

  23. MT May 8, 2016 at 2:16 pm #

    I don’t understand why Jude doesn’t understand a party being neutral on the Union or, as he calls it ‘partition’. Not everyone is driven by identity politics.

    • giordanobruno May 8, 2016 at 3:25 pm #

      MT
      Agreed
      If PBP ever got their hands on the reins of power I have no doubt they would have to make some commitment on the constitutional issue.
      If a referendum comes along then also they might have to take a side.
      In the meantime they are basically a pressure group, and they can operate best by challenging the establishment parties on bread and butter issues without constantly being dragged into sectarian squabbles

      • Pointis May 8, 2016 at 11:30 pm #

        Yes Gio, that is a very good analysis along with Antonio’s. They will eventually hit that iceberg.

      • Flopot December 8, 2016 at 12:29 pm #

        PBP is a cultural marxist group — they will drag you into squabbles about identity politics, not national identity. They will go on and on about gender issues; they will attack religion; they will promote political correctness. They will not deal with bread and butter issues such as, say, the bankster-induced debt that is crippling the NHS.

    • peterp June 1, 2016 at 6:46 pm #

      You can’t escape the fact partition and how we are governed determines our future. In that sense you’re sticking your head in the sand not caring for ‘identity politics’ in this ‘OWC’.
      Ignore Identity politics in this part of the world and you may never get a house or a job if you happen to be a certain religion, colour or of a particular background.
      And if you’re neutral on the union does that mean you’re neutral when the union decides to send British soldiers back onto the streets. You have no say no matter its your country. You don’t care?
      How neutral will you be when a Brit stops you in the street and makes you feel the size of a cockroach or kills a member of your family. You still don’t care?

  24. Páid May 8, 2016 at 5:47 pm #

    Neither green nor orange, just as a matter of interest did PBP canvass in any loyalist/unionist areas?

    • Pointis May 8, 2016 at 11:25 pm #

      Yes Páid, they must have put their posters up on the Shankill because I seem to recall that there were photos on the net of an employee of a butchers shop on the Shankill removing them soon after they went up.

      • Belfastdan May 9, 2016 at 12:30 pm #

        No matter the Shankill is still part of the W. Belfast constituency. They did not put up a candidate in any majority Unionist areas.

        They may say that they are not orange or green but they know their voting base lies in greener places.

      • Páid May 9, 2016 at 2:46 pm #

        But did they actually rap any doors?

  25. Flopot December 8, 2016 at 12:22 pm #

    PBP is a vehicle for cultural marxism. That’s it. They will never challenge the power of the banksters. Just listen to McCann anytime he gets on the radio — he will attack religion and nationalist politics; he will not mention the fraudulent, bankster-induced debt that is really crippling the NHS.

    Cultural Marxists divide and conquer by attacking the roots of a society’s culture. Identity politics is another of their weapons. They will take a legitimate human rights cause and use it to drive a wedge into a community. Why worry about about the elites when you can fret over your gender? Why worry about the illegal wars being fought in your name when you can engage in battles over political correctness?

    A cultural marxist joins a quietly ruminating group; when he leaves it…sorry…when she leaves it, everyone is left bickering. I could quote you numerous cultural marxists stating that their goal is to “****-up society”, either literally, or words to that effect. Get googling! And stay away from PBP.