Tag: SDLP

Review, refresh, re-engage.

Posted on 22nd February 2018 in Dissenting, Elections, General, Human Rights, Unionist

The outcry over the attendance of Jamie Bryson at the House of Commons Northern Ireland Select Committee (NIAC) misses the point. This is a hearing as part of the Committee’s look at “Devolution and democracy in Northern Ireland – dealing with the deficit.” in Northern Ireland.

The NIAC look at “dealing with the deficit” in Northern Ireland has most probably been considered timely given the seemingly on-going impasse in discussions through 2017 (and into 2018) towards restoring devolution: or not, as at present. Presumptive or with great foresight, the Review now seems of greater interest in looking forward – notwithstanding the attendance of Mr Bryson and the subsequent Alliance Party hissy fit in that regard.

Irish nationalism’s self-regarding single certainty.

Posted on 7th August 2017 in Brexit, Dissenting, General, Unionist

United Ireland, inevitability and Brexit.

This long read is available as a PDF download.

In his excellent study of Ideology and the Irish Question, Paul Bew quoted a Ballymoney Free Press editorial of May 1912 at the height of the Irish Home Rule crisis. ‘The statement of Unionist Ulster’, it announced, ‘is that it merely wants to be let alone’. Unfortunately, ‘since Satan entered the Garden of Eden good people will not be let alone’.

This editorial captured a universal truth of Ulster Unionism – the desire to be ‘let alone’ – a truth with ambivalent consequences.

playing with the numbers

Posted on 22nd February 2017 in Elections, General, Unionist

What’s the alternative? What’s the choice?

There have been a number of social media spaces that have been playing with numbers each Party might lose/gain in the upcoming elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Plenty of predictions elsewhere.

Moving on… into another election year.

Posted on 19th May 2015 in Elections, General, Unionist

Nothing much changes in Northern Ireland politics, on the surface.

So when three of eighteen Westminster seats have new Members of Parliament does that represent significant change, or just a wee bit of a shuffle? What do the percentages and numbers mean for the Assembly elections in 2016? Read more… »

Tags: Alliance, APNI, Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Houses of Parliament, Labour Party, Mike Nesbitt, Northern Ireland Assembly, Peter Robinson, SDLP, Sinn Fein, SNP, Tom Elliott, UKIP, Ulster Unionist Party, Unionism, Unionist, UUP, Westminster, William McCrea