Normally when a political party replaces an ageing leader with a leader in his/prime, the expectation is that this will give the party a bounce. People will see the new leader the way we look on the first snow-drops or a tentative daffodil tip pushing clear of the soil: something new and fresh and maybe […]
Tag Archives | DUP
‘DUP have not moved on basic rights’ – Declan Kearney
Sinn Féin MLA and National Chairperson Declan Kearney said today that the DUP have not yet moved on the basic rights which collapsed the Executive. Declan Kearney said: “Discussions are continuing today and time is running short but the DUP have not yet moved on the basic rights issues which caused the collapse of the […]
The DUP: its word is its bond. Or something.
A few factual matters, so we’re clear about what is being asked for up at Stormont and what was agreed prior to the present Stormont talks. “Both parties [the Tory Party and the DUP] will adhere fully to their respective commitments set out in the Belfast Agreement and its successors.” That’s a statement […]
On being British and neutral
British politicians like to be balanced in their approach to things Northern Ireland. Their argument is that for generations Northern Irish Protestants and Catholics have been fighting each other, and it’s Britain’s destiny to try to get them to work together peacefully . Having cast themselves in that role for decades, you’d think British politicians would […]
The perils of being talked about
What party is on the lips of everyone in Britain today? Why, the DUP, of course. I sometimes have to give myself a discreet pinch when I hear the party’s name mentioned in the same breath as the Conservatives, who at present are (more or less) running Britain. (Yes, I could insert an ‘i’ in […]
John Finucane and Emmanuel Macron: separated at birth?
The National Front, Marine Le Pen’s party, was doing its best to carry the burden of defeat last night. Legs wobbling, it pointed out how her father had got somewhere around 18% in 2002, so her 35% showed the party was on an upward path. That’s convincing until you look at Emmanuel Macron, the man who defeated […]
The Stormont talks: is there a way out?
Talks, eh? Is there a people anywhere in the world that’s done more talking than people here? I’m not talking (that word again) about yarns in the pub or in the back room or on the street: I’m talking about political talks. Who won’t talk to whom, who insists on talks about talks, before they’re […]
‘The anti-equality axis in the North is blocking political progress’ by Declan Kearney
“Restoration of public confidence in the political process, reestablishment of the political institutions; and future stability now depends upon implementation of the agreements, equality and respect for all in society and adherence to the GFA.” – Declan Kearney An equality ‘revolution’ in the north of Ireland has been bubbling just below the surface […]
Empathy with unionism: a scary experience
Not many people do empathy. I mean the Full Empathy, where you put yourself as completely as possible in the skull of someone else and try to see the world from their point of view. I’ve been driven to this notion of empathy recently by the small matter of James Brokenshire, British Secretary of State […]
Monday morning blues or Monday morning blue skies?
“We had a successful election”. “You can’t be worried about something that happened three days ago” If I tell you that these two statements were uttered by the same person, you may be a little surprised. If I tell you that they were uttered before half-past nine this morning on the Nolan show, by Gregory […]