What manner of man is Nigel Dodds? Well, if judged by conventional criteria, he is a very smart man. He studied law at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he got a First Class Honours degree along with several prizes. He’s a qualified barrister and worked for twelve years at the Secretariat of the European Parliament. So a stellar academic background.
He joined the DUP and attracted attention in 1986 when he and Ian Paisley attended the wake of UVF man John Bingham, who had been killed by the IRA. (Prominent loyalist George Seawright, wearing his Orange Order sash, helped carry Bingham’s coffin and called for revenge.) He was elected Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1988 and awarded the OBE in 1997 for his services to local government. So a colourful if not entirely immaculate public profile.
Now Nigel is in the thick of it in the up-coming Assembly elections. This smart, politically experienced man says there will be “chaos” if Martin McGuinness were to become First Minister. Mr McGuinness has said that even if Sinn Féin were to become the biggest party (and yes, Virginia, there is some doubt about whether they will be), he wouldn’t use the title but would instead rename the joint office as ‘Joint First Minister’. In other words, he would make plain what is in fact the case today: the First and Deputy First Minister are co-equals. But despite this, Mr Dodds has predicted chaos if Sinn Féin become the biggest party and Mr McGuinness becomes First Minister:
“It’s a choice between strong leadership for a better future and the chaos that would result from the DUP not being the leading party in the Northern Ireland administration”. For those who say that it doesn’t matter who is the biggest party, Mr Dodds speaks of Sinn Féin and the SDLP showing ‘financial irresponsibility’ in not implementing welfare cuts. As for those who disagree with him – “What planet are they living in?” Mr Dodds asks.
So how do you explain this wild and woolly talk about chaos descending if Martin McGuinness were to become Joint First Minister alongside Arlene Foster? Wild and woolly talk, remember, that comes from the mouth of a highly intelligent man with considerable political experience.
Maybe with that last sentence I’ve answered my own question. Last time out, the DUP did extremely well and won 38 seats in the Assembly. There’s general agreement that this happened because unionist voters had been nudged into a state of witless fear by end-of-the-world predictions regarding the future if Sinn Féin got more seats than the DUP.
Exactly the same tactics are being employed this time: fear of the fenians. Yes indeed, Virginia – primitive is the word, and not exactly the nuanced approach to politics you’d expect from a Cambridge graduate with a First Class degree. But then who ever lost votes by appealing to the primitive side of the unionist electorate?
Nigel Dodds may have attended the wake of UVF man John Bingham, but he didn’t attend the wake or funeral of his former party leader Ian Paisley. In fact Paisley’s widow Eileen referred to Dodds as “a cheeky sod”.
Somewhere along the line Nigel Dodds has converted a quite brilliant mind into a cunning and a cutting instrument which carves out a path to personal success with the electorate and within his party. He launched Project Fear a few days back. Watch as the First Class Honours Cambridge graduate uses all his intellectual capabilities to crank up the fear factor over the coming weeks.
I can’t see SF breaking 30 seats so the DUP will need something of a melt down to see SF as the largest party.
The use of pejorative terms, such as “fenian”, “taig” or “prod” remain indicators of the deep divisions that permeate Irish society to the present day. In 2015 there was much debate about welfare reform with right wing politicians advocating all sorts of austerity measures. Public services continue to be decimated, public servants vilified and some employers complain about paying a living wage. The Panama revelations, however, tell a different tale.
As methods to launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid paying tax are being exposed, perhaps people power will challenge and confront the sectarian divisions that constitute the time warp that is the north of Ireland. Honours degrees are not required in order to spot sectarianism and racism as the whiff of corruption becomes a stench throughout the country. Time will tell how many will be led by the nose into the next election.
nigels only trying to keep his snout in the trough same as the rest of them as its easier than having a real job,voters dont have to vote.
STOP THE PRESS! Politician asks electorate to vote for his party rather than rival parties!
Odd, all the same, Esteemed Blogmeister, how two honour graduates of Cambridge University have been hogging, in the non-porcine sense, the headlines in Hibernia this week.
And for not entirely unrelated reasons, neither. The odds against that happening must be high indeed on the Paddy Power industrial average.
Now, to prove in a court of law that Nigel D. is actually talking simultaneously and (at the same time ) out of both sides of his Cupid’s arrow mouth with an Election up ahead , is one thing. When there’s not even a, erm,prima facie case at this remove.
Which is not at all the case regarding the other Cambridge old boy, who was more than happy not only to fess up, but to go to the bother of dressing up beforehand, with button hole and all, to do his fessing up full justice. And in front of the first-classy cameras of the Stassi too. No messing with that fessing up !
No due process neither, more or less, required where Kim Philby (for it is he!) was concerned.
Re-spect.
So, one is left with the conundrum: how come two gladhanding grads, each a Prod, whose shoes throd less than rough shod over the cobblestones of the same academic quad can adopt such wholly different tactics. Where the topic of concurrent talk out of the same cakehole., is under discush.
Enough to make one reach for the fishing rod and indulge in a ruminative spot of angling in the River Cam:
Another Gregorian chant
Now cam in Leprechaun means crooked,awry
A word made for the mouth of the porky pie
Like that of Kim
Not d’other him
No soup stains on the Old College Tie in N.I.
I had heard rumours of Dodgy Dodds academic achievements but had always thought they were malicious rumours by his political opponents.
He has been very adept at concealing any signs of intelligence, by playing to the loyalist/paramilitary mob for his support.
But he was certainly not very successful in his attempt to succeed his mate Peter Robinson as DUP leader.
When he gave his tv interview saying he was withdrawing from the contest I almost (but not quite) felt sympathy for him as he was the epitome of a broken man, almost in tears, and obviously very restricted in what he was able to say.
But now he seems to be leading the DUP election charge on behalf of his former adversary Arlene Foster, he must still be eating large dollops of humble pie in the hope of reinstatement of his former status.
Possibly he has forgotten he is in the DUP, as they don’t do reinstatements!
dodds.is a.bitter.man.
That’s.One.Word.Jim.
Though has Dodds not earned the right to be fearful of Fenians? Don’t forget that when he was visiting the children’s ward of the RVH to see his son, a hit team of two IRA men (or Fenians if they prefer to be called that, giving themselves an air of mythical romanticism) were tailing from behind. When challenged by two undercover officers they fired 4 shots with one injuring the officer’s foot and another going through an empty incubator.
The IRA (or Fenians as some like to be known) later claimed the policemen were the intended targets. But that sounds more like trying to save face after a botched assassination attempt. Why go to all that bother, with so many potential witnesses around just to kill two police officers when doing it out on the street offered a better chance of a getaway. Reports that the IRA (or Fenians as they take pride in being called) meant to kill the police officers and then Dodds himself, sound far more credible and morally ruthless, but then that is what the IRA (or Fenians) did best. Remember this is the organisation that killed a police officer in a hospital car park after he had just visited his newborn child for the first time. Doubly cruel was that his wife heard the shots ring out from her hospital bed. Similarly, Nelson Mcausland also heard the 4 shots ring out that targeted Nigel’s protection team, as he was visiting a different part of the hospital on the same night.
After an episode like that, of almost being sent to bite the dust, you would definitely be twice shy of Fenians or the IRA or any other group of people who plotted your early demise. Definitely understandable if Nigel is not a fully paid up member of the Fenian Fanclub or a subscriber to one of their appreciation societies, for while his own son was battling for life that night, the IRA were battling to give him the kiss of death.
I am sure the Brits colluded in some way: the Ira never did anything bad, it was all the nasty Brits.
“Though has Dodds not earned the right to be fearful of Fenians? Don’t forget that when he was visiting the children’s ward of the RVH to see his son, a hit team of two IRA men (or Fenians if they prefer to be called that, giving themselves an air of mythical romanticism) were tailing from behind”
Kop, by that logic then every single nationalist politician, in fact every single Catholic, has reason to be fearful of Unionists or Loyalists or “Prods” as they like to be called. Numerous Nationalist politicians, even the SDLP, were followed and tailed by Unionists/Loyalists, many of them serving members of the RUC/UDR whilst in terrorist organisations like the UVF/UDA, which the DUP/UUP were best buddies with. An SDLP politician and a protestant woman was repeatedly stabbed to death by Loyalists and had their throats cut after they were dead. The Loyalists thought the Protestant woman was a Catholic, despite her terrified denials. They were both stabbed, I believe, over 20-30 times. Is that not reason to fear “Prods”?…..
“Reports that the IRA (or Fenians as they take pride in being called) meant to kill the police officers and then Dodds himself, sound far more credible and morally ruthless, but then that is what the IRA (or Fenians) did best.”
The last time I looked the IRA targeted the RUC and Unionist politicians, especially of the DUP types, who were at the very least sympathizers of Loyalist paramilitaries. The IRA made no secret of this, so I fail to see the point your trying to make Kop……as for “morally ruthless”, go check out what the British Army has done in Iraq since 2003 and even done here in NI, would you describe that as “morally ruthless”? And what gives you the right or the knowledge to proclaim what is moral and what is not?…..if the IRA had have set a bomb under Dodds car when he left work would that be any less or more moral than them tracking him to a hospital? The point I’m trying to make Kop is your bringing morality into it because you don’t agree with the IRA, that’s your POLITICAL stance, not necessarily a moral one but I’m sure if the UVF did exactly the same to an SDLP or especially a SF politician, I’m certain your grand “moral compass” would suddenly change…..
” Remember this is the organisation that killed a police officer in a hospital car park after he had just visited his newborn child for the first time”
Again, the IRA made no secret of targeting RUC men, where or how they were targeted is irrelevant. Unionists may find that disgusting but most Unionists support the state of Israel that murdered over 500 Palestinian children, under the age of 10, in the Summer of 2014 alone. Indeed while protests were held against Israel in Belfast city centre, Unionists were hosting a “Friends of Israel” event in Stormont. Morally Ruthless Kop?…..better check the moral compass…..
” Similarly, Nelson Mcausland also heard the 4 shots ring out that targeted Nigel’s protection team, as he was visiting a different part of the hospital on the same night.”
I hope Nelson didn’t have a nervous breakdown over hearing 4 shots…..whereas other people, both Catholic and Protestant, were actually hit directly by more than 4 bullets and are very lucky to be alive today, so Nelson should consider himself lucky he’s not in their position.
“After an episode like that, of almost being sent to bite the dust, you would definitely be twice shy of Fenians or the IRA or any other group of people who plotted your early demise. Definitely understandable if Nigel is not a fully paid up member of the Fenian Fanclub or a subscriber to one of their appreciation societies, for while his own son was battling for life that night, the IRA were battling to give him the kiss of death”
Again, a Catholic could say that about political Unionism. Running a sectarian, discriminatory state for 50 years, using the likes of the B-Specials, RUC and Loyalist mobs as your own militia hasn’t been forgotten by Catholics, hence why less than 1% vote Unionist.
‘Never confuse education with intelligence’ as they say.
A good friend of mine works for a London based charity and regularly finds himself at lobbying meetings, receptions/cheese & wine type affairs in Westminster. To say that the DUP MPs are looked upon with disdain would be an understatement. Literally no-one will speak to them.
They are viewed as weird, creepy guys who find themselves ignored and alone in the corner at any functions they happen to attend. I prefer to think of Nigel Dodds in this way. Standing alone in a corner; ignored by all. With some gravy down the front of his cheap suit.
28 October 1976, Máire Drumm shot dead in her hospital bed in a joint operation by the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association.
I’m afraid you’re spot on Dr C, fearing the taigs is what keeps us in line.
Did you see thon DUP policy thingumy? Plenty of fleg but very little in the way of real issues e.g. Brexit, job creation (in a realistic sense).
The top brass of the DUP, UUP and (maybe) the TUV are academically first rate but their strategic thinking is pitiful and they’re the biggest enemy to Northern Ireland’s existence.
I know you want people to get along Dr C but all you can really do when you read things like this is just go and hang around with nice people or watch a good movie (on which note I recommend ‘Hail, Caesar’, absolutely ludicrous and brilliant, watched it last night).
NI’s existence has no greater friend than the DUP so see some comfort in that.
Oh, many, many DUP members have been at the funerals of active Loyalist paramilitaries Jude, even when they were carrying out sectarian murder sprees of Catholic civilians. John Bingham, a UVF commander, was personally responsible for over 10 murders of Catholic civilians. George Seawright said all Catholics and Catholic priests should be burnt in incinerators, he was killed by the IPLO. DUP’s Willie McCrea shared a platform with LVF Leader Billy Wright, this was when the LVF were carrying out numerous murders of Catholic civilians. Paisley conducted the funerals of numerous Loyalist paramilitaries. Paisley was apart of “Ulster Protestant Action” in the 1950’s, an armed force coming together to oppose civil rights for Catholics, drawing up lists of assassination targets, etc They especially opposed the end of gerrymandering. Ulster Protestant Action evolved into the “Protestant Unionist Party” which then morphed into the DUP today. Many of the people involved in the Ulster Protestant Action group later formed the UDA. The DUP and the UDA have always been very cosy, even when the UDA were committing numerous murders of Catholic civilians. John McMichael, the Leader of the UDA, was killed by the IRA. Peter Robinson and Sammy Wilson carried his coffin at his funeral. Indeed in 1993 the UDA drew up a plan of ethnic cleansing and genocide of Catholics which Sammy Wilson (was he Lord Mayor of Belfast then??) described as “a valuable return to reality”.
Today, in 2016, the UDA and DUP are still very close, in the latest spotlightNI programme the Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry confirmed that the DUP wanted to bypass normal procedure to get funding for a group connected to the UDA in Bangor, Stephen Farry said he found the DUP’s request “very strange”. A UDA commander in Bangor today has been seen pictured alongside DUP members and even the Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers. The PSNI have said the UDA is still involved in drug dealing, extortion, violence, sectarianism, intimidation and general crime. In Bangor particularly, the UDA have beaten up genuine community workers because they wanted the PSNI to remove UDA flags from their area. The community worker said the people in Bangor are “living in fear from Loyalist paramilitaries and the PSNI will take no action”. He even seriously asked “Should we go to the UDA instead of the PSNI?”…..
Why isn’t the PSNI or even the media looking into the DUP’s (and the UUP’s) past concerning Loyalist paramilitaries? Is there even a difference between them? They aren’t shy going on about Sinn Fein and the PIRA. The spotlight should be put on the DUP and exactly what they have got up to in the past. Remember Ulster Resistance, founded by the DUP, imported weapons and a lot of these ended up in the hands of Loyalist paramilitaries (which was the intention, of course) and they have been used in the murders of over 100 people. The DUP and UUP should not be let off the hook for the past.
I doubt very much Sinn Fein will be the largest party next month but I believe they will within a decade. The DUP’s real concern here is the UUP. I think the DUP has reached their peak and I have a feeling Arlene Foster is going to be its last leader, I don’t think shes going to have a good election, I certainly don’t see her making gains. Mike Nesbitt, in my opinion, is a much better leader than Arlene is and I think this is going to be a good election for Mike, at the expense of the DUP of course. The reality is Sinn Fein will be in exactly the same position next month as they are now, so will the DUP. The Office of First Minister is a Joint Office, so no matter what Martin McGuinness will be Joint First Minister next month. The DUP is just doing what Unionism has done for decades, centuries even, and that is stoking up fear of “them’uns”. Its a very unhealthy and even a dangerous thing to do.
Nigel Dodds was also called by Paisley’s wife: “The Mighty Dodds”. Paisley’s wife said that Dodds was looked after and encouraged by Paisley in his early years in the DUP. Then Dodds put a knife into Paisley’s back once Big Ian got older and slower. Paisley told his wife “The mighty Dodds wants me out”. I think that’s when Paisley’s wife called Dodds a “cheeky sod”.
What exactly is Ian Paisley Jnr’s position on all this? I’m surprised he didn’t run for DUP Leader, I thought he would’ve been a forerunner for the position. Indeed I haven’t even heard Paisley Jnr speaking about the backstabbing of his father by Robbo and the Mighty Dodds, or maybe I’ve just missed it all.
The DUP are using a winning formula. One of the key goals for any politician is to get reelected. It does pose the question; what is nationalism’s strategy? Martin mcG has done more than enough to be a focal point for all nationalism. His hard work should be the inspiration to sell him as a first minister.
Also, gerry Adams has sounded stale and uninspiring for a while now.
What is it with the politics of fear taking over both sides of the Atlantic. In the US we have Donald Trump talking about the Mexican and Islamic threats and in Northern Ireland we have Mr. Dodds warning about a renewal of sectarian warfare.