West Tyrone

[greenhert]

Since we have had no posts in this by-election thread for nearly 3 weeks, I ask you to look on Twitter to see what is happening in this by-election; you can find a rather surprising amount.

[CatholicLeft]

Apr 29, 2018 21:50:49 GMT greenhert said:

Since we have had no posts in this by-election thread for nearly 3 weeks, I ask you to look on Twitter to see what is happening in this by-election; you can find a rather surprising amount.

I watched the panel debate on TheView on BBC NI the other day: Orfhlaith Begley (SF) seemed really uncomfortable and out of her depth, almost automatonic in her replies. Thomas Buchanan (DUP) was fairly pugnacious, whilst Daniel McCrossan (SDLP) came across the most at ease and seemed the "winner" of the encounter. Chris Smyth (UUP) and Stephen Donnelly (APNI) were pleasant enough, but clearly not in the game.
Sinn Fein are campaigning hard and have had special canvassing days (a "all-women' canvas the other day), SDLP are putting in a strong showing - though it remains to be seen if it will lift their vote share- and DUP are campaigning hard too.
I am interested in turnout, whether the SDLP can wrest some votes off SF and some Unionists, and if the DUP can increase its share of the vote.

[Tom]

The DUP are making a big fuss about Sinn Féin's change of policy on abortion, in the hope of winning over some conservative Catholic voters. I can't really see many making the switch however.

[Davıd Boothroyd]

One of the interesting bits of news in the last few days was that new Sinn Féin President Mary-Lou McDonald made a speech which named the second largest city in Northern Ireland, the one the River Foyle runs through, as 'Londonderry'.

[johnloony]

Apr 29, 2018 23:05:27 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

One of the interesting bits of news in the last few days was that new Sinn Féin President Mary-Lou McDonald made a speech which named the second largest city in Northern Ireland, the one the River Foyle runs through, as 'Londonderry'.

I saw that story, but I didn't understand why. Was she making a point? Trying to reach across communities and build bridges? Or is it even possible she did it inadvertently as a slip of the tongue?

[syorkssocialist]

Apr 29, 2018 23:38:46 GMT johnloony said:

Apr 29, 2018 23:05:27 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

One of the interesting bits of news in the last few days was that new Sinn Féin President Mary-Lou McDonald made a speech which named the second largest city in Northern Ireland, the one the River Foyle runs through, as 'Londonderry'.

I saw that story, but I didn't understand why. Was she making a point? Trying to reach across communities and build bridges? Or is it even possible she did it inadvertently as a slip of the tongue?

The full quote is: "We've had an engagement with young people with interests across Derry, or Londonderry"

So you can discount a slip of the tongue.

[CatholicLeft]

Apr 29, 2018 22:58:17 GMT Tom said:

The DUP are making a big fuss about Sinn Féin's change of policy on abortion, in the hope of winning over some conservative Catholic voters. I can't really see many making the switch however.

Daft, given that Daniel McCrossah of the SDLP is strongly pro-life; so why would the DUP be more attractive?

[Tony Otim]

Apr 30, 2018 8:14:45 GMT CatholicLeft said:

Apr 29, 2018 22:58:17 GMT Tom said:

The DUP are making a big fuss about Sinn Féin's change of policy on abortion, in the hope of winning over some conservative Catholic voters. I can't really see many making the switch however.

Daft, given that Daniel McCrossah of the SDLP is strongly pro-life; so why would the DUP be more attractive?

Stripping voters from SF to the SDLP probably helps the DUP to a certain extent, not that it's going to change the result here but if there is a new election to Stormont a more split Nationalist vote leaves the DUP clearer as the largest party.

[colm]

Apr 29, 2018 23:38:46 GMT johnloony said:

Apr 29, 2018 23:05:27 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

One of the interesting bits of news in the last few days was that new Sinn Féin President Mary-Lou McDonald made a speech which named the second largest city in Northern Ireland, the one the River Foyle runs through, as 'Londonderry'.

I saw that story, but I didn't understand why. Was she making a point? Trying to reach across communities and build bridges? Or is it even possible she did it inadvertently as a slip of the tongue?

I believe she was addressing a mainly unionist community at that time.  Everyone from Derry just calls it Derry anyway, only unionists not from the local area ever really refer to it as LondonDerry.

[Tom]

Apr 30, 2018 16:59:15 GMT colm said:

Apr 29, 2018 23:38:46 GMT johnloony said:

I saw that story, but I didn't understand why. Was she making a point? Trying to reach across communities and build bridges? Or is it even possible she did it inadvertently as a slip of the tongue?

I believe she was addressing a mainly unionist community at that time.  Everyone from Derry just calls it Derry anyway, only unionists not from the local area ever really refer to it as LondonDerry.

For political reasons I always refer to the place as Londonderry. Now sure what that says about me 

[Sharon]

Apr 30, 2018 17:02:29 GMT Tom said:

Apr 30, 2018 16:59:15 GMT colm said:

I believe she was addressing a mainly unionist community at that time.  Everyone from Derry just calls it Derry anyway, only unionists not from the local area ever really refer to it as LondonDerry.

For political reasons I always refer to the place as Londonderry. Now sure what that says about me 

Whilst I always call it Derry 

[tiberius]

Apr 30, 2018 17:02:29 GMT Tom said:

Apr 30, 2018 16:59:15 GMT colm said:

I believe she was addressing a mainly unionist community at that time.  Everyone from Derry just calls it Derry anyway, only unionists not from the local area ever really refer to it as LondonDerry.

For political reasons I always refer to the place as Londonderry. Now sure what that says about me 

I am in the same camp. 

[Deleted]

[neilm]

How does one pronounce her name?

[syorkssocialist]

Or-la

[CatholicLeft]

Apr 30, 2018 20:32:59 GMT doktorb🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ said:

How, exactly, if you aren't in any parliamentary forum?

[syorkssocialist]

Omagh Sinn Féin have been attacking the SDLP for not being in Westminster:

Not even an ounce of self-awareness?

[East Anglian Lefty]

Apr 30, 2018 16:59:15 GMT colm said:

Apr 29, 2018 23:38:46 GMT johnloony said:

I saw that story, but I didn't understand why. Was she making a point? Trying to reach across communities and build bridges? Or is it even possible she did it inadvertently as a slip of the tongue?

I believe she was addressing a mainly unionist community at that time.  Everyone from Derry just calls it Derry anyway, only unionists not from the local area ever really refer to it as LondonDerry.

My father-in-law (originally from Manchester, used to vote SF but I think switched to SDLP a couple of years back) refers to it as Londonderry. This is because he is a troll. I haven't heard much news about the by-election campaign from them, but then again they are in the back end of beyond.

[CatholicLeft]

I remember chatting to the leader of the Real IRA prisoners where I worked about the approaching elections and Gregory Campbell, DUP MP for East Londonderry.....brief pause....., "or Derry East, as it should be called", I hastily added.

[Devil Wincarnate]

Apr 30, 2018 22:02:38 GMT syorkssocialist said:

Omagh Sinn Féin have been attacking the SDLP for not being in Westminster:

Not even an ounce of self-awareness?

Also, this is the party that tried to have influence in Ireland by pretending that all democratic elections were invalid, and that they had inherited the mandates of various long-dead members of a past Dail.