Comments for The Dissenter

Comment on Looking forward: Part 1 by Editor

Editor — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:55:12 +0000

The particular circumstances of events around Peter Robinson in the six months before the election makes it very hard to project forward or predict what will happen in 2011 never mind 2015. The DUP machine is not necessarily as formidable as you suggest. The rise has almost matched that of the decline of the UUP, and the UUP served them many votes on a plate. What failed Robinson in East Belfast was an inability to read the electorate, which to that point had been at the heart of the DUP’s electoral success.

Comment on Looking forward: Part 1 by Ed

Ed — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:41:58 +0000

Interesting and detailed analysis.I’d like your opinion on what I would consider the most suprising and bizarre aspect of the recent election:Long’s win in East Belfast for Alliance.
My question:what do you think are her chances of retaining the seat in 2015 against the formidable DUP election machine?

Comment on Looking forward: Part 1 by How do we move beyond defence of the Union, to advancing and deepening it? « Open Unionism

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:30:26 +0000

[...] does not mean that the Union is under threat: which is not to say that the Union cannot be lost. On The Dissenter there is a longer exercise in looking at the outcomes of the Westminster election and reading the [...]

Comment on Looking forward: Part 1 by Editor

Editor — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:30:48 +0000

Opinion is not the same as fact. People may read your comment and consider your predictions likely to be as accurate as your spelling and grammar.

Comment on Looking forward: Part 1 by Daithí

Daithí — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:01:41 +0000

In an election, each constituency is an enclave. the fact is that in the 2010 election, unionism retreated to just 50% of the seats. A similar outcome is likely in the Assembley elections next year. My prediction is 53 or 54 unionist seats. Unionism has lost its majority; losing its plurality is likely to take 20 or 30 more years. There well may be a United Ireland before then

Comment on One Man’s Call by Looking forward: Part 1 « The Dissenter

Looking forward: Part 1 « The Dissenter — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:41:27 +0000

[...] of the DUP suggests that there is little likelihood of Robinson being replaced as leader; for reasons not that dissimilar to the earlier thedissenter piece in the wake of revelations around Iris Robinson earlier in the year. The early DUP was shaped by Ian [...]

Comment on European Election – AFTERSHOCK by Election Focus – DUP | Left Foot Forward

Election Focus – DUP | Left Foot Forward — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:40:37 +0000

[...] per cent of the votes cast, wholly at the expense of the DUP. As “The Dissenter” blog said, it had “shaken the consensus on which the Belfast Agreement stands or [...]

Comment on Unionist Spring? by Editor

Editor — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:37:17 +0000

Really don’t care about what your grass roots think. As you don’t provide a name or reason why anyone should care to listen to the rumours you want to propagate, thedissenter suggests you set up your own blog and then you can prattle away as much as you like on your own space.

Comment on Unionist Spring? by emanonon

emanonon — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:02:55 +0000

In three parts – after all of them took place before the Conservatives made it 100% clear that they will not be involved in any deals which involve the DUP directly or indirectly and Empey said the DUP want to destroy the UUP hardly Unionist unity

I also hear rumours that some in our grass roots are looking for changes in the elected leadership as they are unhappy with the directions they have been taking.

Comment on Unionist Spring? by Editor

Editor — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:55:03 +0000

‘It has been made quite clear that the Conservatiives will not be involved in any shape or form with the DUP. Empey has made it clear what he thinks. The UUP Executive have made it clear what they think.”

In three parts: Hatfield questions the first part. Schomberg House questions the second. And the UUP Executive usually plays follow my leader.

Comment on Unionist Spring? by Editor

Editor — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:40:37 +0000

The post begins with a reference to ‘unity’ as ‘nirvana’ – that is a clue to thedissenter view on ‘unionist unity’. The rest merely looks at electoral mathematics that may be influencing considerations around the place. The post does not at any point express an opinion on what is best for these parties – they’ll decide that for themselves.

Comment on Unionist Spring? by bob wilson

bob wilson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:19:00 +0000

‘extract maximum value from a hung Parliament, where ten to twelve Unionist seats represent the difference’
Yes or one could give up on mathematically slim fantasies, stop behaving like ‘outsiders’ and try to accept the hand of friendship from David Cameron.
Are you seriously suggesting that it best to go down the ‘unionist unity’ route on the back of a chance of a hung Parliament and to snub Cameron!?

Comment on Unionist Spring? by emanonon

emanonon — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:56:31 +0000

A complete load of claptrap.

It has been made quite clear that the Conservatiives will not be involved in any shape or form with the DUP. Empey has made it clear what he thinks. Th UUP Executive have made it clear what they think.

Your nonsense fits in with none of them, please do some research before pontificating on things you know nothing of.

Comment on Conservative Practicality. by There will be an election in 2010 « The Dissenter

There will be an election in 2010 « The Dissenter — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:02:12 +0000

[...] opinion polls are erratic, as discussed on thedissenter earlier, and the potential for a tightly hung Parliament is real. A party holding a small number of seats [...]

Comment on Lady Sylvia Herman expresses doubts. by Editor

Editor — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:51:20 +0000

The simple checklist points that may be relevant are:

Do the people whose information I hold know that I've got it, and are they likely to understand what it will be used for?

If I'm asked to pass on personal information, would the people about whom I hold information expect me to do this?

Just because you answer yes does not mean compliance. Why not just be obvious and say the info would be shared within UCUNF? Within the context of the point, it makes the appearance of a one way street and in Northern Ireland you need to be more straight talking. It would only take one person to receive a UUP mailing from the data gathered and claim that he thought the info was only for the Conservatives and... It seems from the outside that there is no-one really thinking this through, taking on board the sensitivities and the considerable difference in the nature of the electorates between England and NI.

Comment on Lady Sylvia Herman expresses doubts. by MJS

MJS — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:18:47 +0000

“because as there are still two parties as Sir Reg keeps repeating, the information cannot be passed onto a third party (UUP)”

Not so. They can pass it to anyone in the western world so long as that is done in line with why the information was collected in the first place. Passing it to the UUP would be entirely legal.

Comment on Interest in the Northern Ireland Euro poll may be on who votes rather than who is elected. by Jeffrey Peel

Jeffrey Peel — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:06:35 +0000

David, a good analysis and on the nail in my view. Whole bloody situation is depressing.

Comment on Constructive Unionism by editor

editor — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:07:45 +0000

David Cameron made a positive and constructive speech at the weekend. He was by far the star performer at the Ulster Unionist conference. There can be no doubt about the Conservative commitment to the new arrangements with the Ulster Unionist Party.

It remains unclear how the arrangements will work in the real politic of Northern Ireland. Most immediately it allowed the Ulster Unionist Party to look united and with something to work towards. Is it too late? Not necessarily. Already it is possible to hear a note of confidence in the comments of Tom Elliott MLA http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1208/1228571630067.html

Whatever else, the weekend has gone some way to shake off some cobwebs in Northern Ireland politics and should be welcomed for that alone.

Comment on A Powerful Hunger by Pat

Pat — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:47:39 +0000

Just saw Hunger at the weekend then found this review and have to say you got it spot on.

People will see what they want to in this film, but I thought it was more about suffering and determination.

As a ‘Brit’ who grew up (mostly) removed from the Troubles, and one who holds no allegiance in this debate, I might add, I found it helped my understanding of this much-ignored part of history.

As for other films, I can’t think of any others about the period that are worth watching, but (at the risk of being corrected) I thought Michael Collins and The Wind That Shakes The Barley are worth a watch, even if only to understand where the IRA came from.

Guess you’d put these in the worthy but worthwhile category though, would you, Editor?

Comment on A Powerful Hunger by editor

editor — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:38:19 +0000

There is not much else worth watching. Most Irish history stuff is mostly romantic political stuff which makes it worthy rather than worthwhile.