|
|
Post by Adam in Stroud on Jan 15, 2018 23:17:23 GMT
Unless there are huge abstentions from Nationalist voters, this can't be a unionist gain. They now form well under a third of the electorate, have done so since 2001, and their numbers are continuing to decline slowly. Much as I loathe SF, I can't see why a previous SF voter would abstain. McElduff's comments were disgraceful and demonstrated his unfitness for office, but he has resigned. In a more normal political environment you might see a drift from SF on the basis that a party that could tolerate him is beyond the pale (which would be my position) but NI is simply not normal. I would love to see a rejuvenated SDLP or even better a non-sectarian party such as APNI or GPNI put in a storming campaign with a great candidate, calling out SF and DUP for being still stuck in the politics of the Troubles in which they were both so complicit and the DUP for their corruption and incompetence in government; but it isn't going to happen. |
|
|
|
Post by greatkingrat on Jan 15, 2018 23:29:30 GMT
Someone like Kieran Deeny running as an independent would be interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Devil Wincarnate on Jan 16, 2018 0:21:21 GMT
The best hope is that SF uses the opportunity to clear out one of the real arseholes and not replace them with another in exactly the same mould.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 6:39:07 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 9:48:10 GMT
Tbf if Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness could work together its proof that despite the rhetoric we have moved beyond the troubles. If only the current leadership could take heed
|
|
|
|
Post by markgoodair on Jan 16, 2018 9:58:34 GMT
Obviously someone cannot tell the difference between filling vacancies for the Assembly and filling vacancies for Westminster. |
|
|
|
Post by jimboo2017 on Jan 16, 2018 10:02:28 GMT
Obviously someone cannot tell the difference between filling vacancies for the Assembly and filling vacancies for Westminster. Or filling vacancies for half decent journalists |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 10:32:16 GMT
Unfortunately I cannot see Sinn Fein losing this, it would be delicious though even if it was to the anti-IRA SDLP.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on Jan 16, 2018 10:43:28 GMT
Unfortunately I cannot see Sinn Fein losing this, it would be delicious though even if it was to the anti-IRA SDLP. The problem with that is that SDLP MPs take the whip of the pro-IRA Labour party so from the point of view of parliamentary arithmetic it would be better to have the fenians unrepresented in the UK parliament altogether. It would take an almost perfectly even split in the nationalist vote like in 1997 to enable a Unionist candidate to come through the middle |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 10:50:12 GMT
Unfortunately I cannot see Sinn Fein losing this, it would be delicious though even if it was to the anti-IRA SDLP. The problem with that is that SDLP MPs take the whip of the pro-IRA Labour party so from the point of view of parliamentary arithmetic it would be better to have the fenians unrepresented in the UK parliament altogether. It would take an almost perfectly even split in the nationalist vote like in 1997 to enable a Unionist candidate to come through the middle I accept the direction of the Labour Party and it’s members but I genuinely believe the SDLP would stand up to Jeremy if he tried to force them down that road in a whipped vote. If they can stand up to terrorists with guns they can stand up to a dodgy vegetarian pensioner. TBH, I would prefer a Unionist to win but as you pointed out that’s very unlikely. Overall though it seems the days of the moderate and decent SDLP and UUP are probably numbered unfortunately. |
|
The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,925
Member is Online
|
Post by The Bishop on Jan 16, 2018 11:24:21 GMT
Might only be one Unionist candidate if UU proposal for a “non-partisan candidate” is accepted Yeah, very original forward thinking there. |
|
mondialito
Labour
Everything is horribly, brutally possible.
Posts: 4,961 
Member is Online
|
Post by mondialito on Jan 16, 2018 11:48:27 GMT
The problem with that is that SDLP MPs take the whip of the pro-IRA Labour party so from the point of view of parliamentary arithmetic it would be better to have the fenians unrepresented in the UK parliament altogether. It would take an almost perfectly even split in the nationalist vote like in 1997 to enable a Unionist candidate to come through the middle If they can stand up to terrorists with guns they can stand up to a dodgy vegetarian pensioner. TBH, I would prefer a Unionist to win but as you pointed out that’s very unlikely. Overall though it seems the days of the moderate and decent SDLP and UUP are probably numbered unfortunately. A whipped vote on what, exactly?
Seriously guys, engage with the real world, thank you.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 12:11:12 GMT
I accept the direction of the Labour Party and it’s members but I genuinely believe the SDLP would stand up to Jeremy if he tried to force them down that road in a whipped vote. If they can stand up to terrorists with guns they can stand up to a dodgy vegetarian pensioner. TBH, I would prefer a Unionist to win but as you pointed out that’s very unlikely. Overall though it seems the days of the moderate and decent SDLP and UUP are probably numbered unfortunately. A whipped vote on what, exactly?
Seriously guys, engage with the real world, thank you.
He could try to change the Labour party’s position on Northern Irish ones from one of Neutrality to one favourable to Sinn Fein. Frankly to be blunt, you and your colleagues are the ones who don’t live in the real world. Jeremy Corbyn has associated with terrorists, bigots, anti semites, homophobes, hostile foreign governments, terrorists all throughout his political career and Labour people act like it was all innocent and he’s some yet to be canonised saint. He isn’t, he’s a scumbag. So don’t throw stones and give suggestions to others in that condescending manner because you and your party are in the biggest of all glass houses. Just a suggestion. |
|
|
|
Post by jimboo2017 on Jan 16, 2018 12:12:49 GMT
Might only be one Unionist candidate if UU proposal for a “non-partisan candidate” is accepted Yeah, very original forward thinking there. That's the UU for U |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 12:13:33 GMT
Good to see this MP has resigned.
If only Jared O’Mara could do the same...
|
|
|
|
Post by timrollpickering on Jan 16, 2018 12:14:21 GMT
Might only be one Unionist candidate if UU proposal for a “non-partisan candidate” is accepted How can it be "non-partisan" if it only represents the Unionist community?? Non-partisanship in one community. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 12:47:28 GMT
Good to see this MP has resigned. If only Jared O’Mara could do the same... He is the perfect advert for recall for MP’s |
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on Jan 16, 2018 13:11:18 GMT
The problem with that is that SDLP MPs take the whip of the pro-IRA Labour party so from the point of view of parliamentary arithmetic it would be better to have the fenians unrepresented in the UK parliament altogether. It would take an almost perfectly even split in the nationalist vote like in 1997 to enable a Unionist candidate to come through the middle I accept the direction of the Labour Party and it’s members but I genuinely believe the SDLP would stand up to Jeremy if he tried to force them down that road in a whipped vote. If they can stand up to terrorists with guns they can stand up to a dodgy vegetarian pensioner. TBH, I would prefer a Unionist to win but as you pointed out that’s very unlikely. Overall though it seems the days of the moderate and decent SDLP and UUP are probably numbered unfortunately. My point was that it would potentially be another vote in the Commons to put Corbyn into Downing Street, not that they would share his sympathies wrt Republican terrorism (which presumably they would not) |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 13:16:37 GMT
I accept the direction of the Labour Party and it’s members but I genuinely believe the SDLP would stand up to Jeremy if he tried to force them down that road in a whipped vote. If they can stand up to terrorists with guns they can stand up to a dodgy vegetarian pensioner. TBH, I would prefer a Unionist to win but as you pointed out that’s very unlikely. Overall though it seems the days of the moderate and decent SDLP and UUP are probably numbered unfortunately. My point was that it would potentially be another vote in the Commons to put Corbyn into Downing Street, not that they would share his sympathies wrt Republican terrorism (which presumably they would not) I see, well it’s the job of Conservatives to ensure that Tories etc. outnumber Greens, Labour, SNP and SDLP MP’s, morally though in this seat and given what the prior MP did, I still think that an SDLP MP is better than a Sinn Fein one, even if it means another vote for Corbyn. I doubt that’ll be an issue though. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2018 13:23:13 GMT
Good to see this MP has resigned. If only Jared O’Mara could do the same... He is the perfect advert for recall for MP’s Tories have their "recallables" as well.... |
|
