Two events: one from yesterday, the other to come later today. Neither is of particular significance. Yesterday Paul Maskey was elected in West Belfast, polling, what was it, just over 70% of the vote. Last time out, Gerry Adams collected just over 71% of the vote. Maskey’s next rival, the SDLP ‘s Alex Attwood, came […]
Author Jude Collins
The Commons knows its place; why can’t John O’Dowd?
John O’Dowd had a difference of opinion with the TUV’s Jim Allister up in Stormont the other day. Allister referred to him as “Her Majesty’s Minister for Education”. “I am not Her Majesty’s Minister for Education” O’Dowd told the once-potent threat to the DUP. “I am the people’s Minister for Education, a title of which […]
The Commons knows its place; why can’t John O’Dowd?
John O’Dowd had a difference of opinion with the TUV’s Jim Allister up in Stormont the other day. Allister referred to him as “Her Majesty’s Minister for Education”. “I am not Her Majesty’s Minister for Education” O’Dowd told the once-potent threat to the DUP. “I am the people’s Minister for Education, a title of which […]
Limavady neutral environment? Don’t give the cat a seizure
William Ferguson Massey Gerry Anderson says he longs to live somewhere else because of arguments over them, John Hume’s da said you couldn’t eat one, and last night Councillor Boyd Douglas (TUV) brought one into a meeting of Limavady Borough Council. The union flag displayed by Councillor Douglas was contrary to the no-flags-in-the-chamber policy of […]
Limavady neutral environment? Don’t give the cat a seizure
William Ferguson Massey Gerry Anderson says he longs to live somewhere else because of arguments over them, John Hume’s da said you couldn’t eat one, and last night Councillor Boyd Douglas (TUV) brought one into a meeting of Limavady Borough Council. The union flag displayed by Councillor Douglas was contrary to the no-flags-in-the-chamber policy of […]
Abortion? My head hurts
Pro-choice campaigners fight moves to turn back clock on abortion rights Diane Abbott among those opposing involvement of anti-abortion charity in possible amendment to law The above is a headline in today’s Guardian newspaper. It struck me that the phrase ‘turn back the clock’ was a loaded one, making clear which side of the debate […]
Abortion? My head hurts
Pro-choice campaigners fight moves to turn back clock on abortion rights Diane Abbott among those opposing involvement of anti-abortion charity in possible amendment to law The above is a headline in today’s Guardian newspaper. It struck me that the phrase ‘turn back the clock’ was a loaded one, making clear which side of the debate […]
The OU – doesn’t it care?
I wonder if it works in reverse. As we all now know, the Irish language recently received an invaluable endorsement from the head of the Church of England, when she made that astonishing and astonishingly-fluent speech in Irish. All changed, changed utterly. It’s now OK for decent people to talk Erse. However, it now emerges […]
The OU – doesn’t it care?
I wonder if it works in reverse. As we all now know, the Irish language recently received an invaluable endorsement from the head of the Church of England, when she made that astonishing and astonishingly-fluent speech in Irish. All changed, changed utterly. It’s now OK for decent people to talk Erse. However, it now emerges […]
The McArdle story: the last paragraph
That’s it, then. Matter closed. After days, weeks of sniper fire from all angles, the Mary McArdle affair is now closed. She will not be resigning. Those who had an eye to adjusting or removing the present power-sharing arrangements used the pain of Ann Travers as cover while they launched salvo after salvo at Sinn […]