Dan
Animal Welfare Party
Believes we need more localism in our politics
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Post by Dan on Mar 9, 2013 21:37:47 GMT
I can't think of a single justification of a unity candidate against the SDLP. I struggle to think of a single justification for a unionist unity candidate full stop. It just seeks to reinforce entrenched divisions within communities, and is holding back the 'normalisation' of that part of the UK. If Scotland, on the cusp of border poll, can manage to conduct its politics seemingly without the need for unionist unity candidates, it's hard to think why it's such a good thing in Northern Ireland.
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Post by East Anglian Lefty on Mar 9, 2013 23:37:52 GMT
SF will take a lot of positives out of the result and the Unionists will think they can do deals on Unionist Unity candidates in Fermanagh & South Tyrone, South Belfast, North Down and possibly East Belfast as well. Of course the new Unionist party will be a feature in the stronger Unionist and more urban strongholds. Why the last two seats? There's already a unionist in the former, and there's zero chance of a nationalist being elected there, whilst in the latter the victory of an Alliance candidate makes clear that unionist unity wouldn't be uncomplicated. North Belfast might be a sensible place to take the precaution, though.
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Post by timrollpickering on Mar 9, 2013 23:57:27 GMT
I suspect North Down is a typo that should actually be South Down.
Or irish observer has forgotten that Sylvia Hermon is a Unionist - she was last elected as "Independent".
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Richard Allen
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Post by Richard Allen on Mar 10, 2013 0:05:17 GMT
I suspect North Down is a typo that should actually be South Down. Or irish observer has forgotten that Sylvia Hermon is a Unionist - she was last elected as "Independent". Or perhaps he simply recognises that there are many who can't stand the wicked witch and would like to see her defeated.
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Tony Otim
Green
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Post by Tony Otim on Mar 10, 2013 13:17:28 GMT
I suspect North Down is a typo that should actually be South Down. Or irish observer has forgotten that Sylvia Hermon is a Unionist - she was last elected as "Independent". Or perhaps he simply recognises that there are many who can't stand the wicked witch and would like to see her defeated. Maybe, but they could hardly put themselves forward as a unionist unity candidate in order to do so.
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Post by irish observer on Mar 10, 2013 13:39:34 GMT
I suspect North Down is a typo that should actually be South Down. Or irish observer has forgotten that Sylvia Hermon is a Unionist - she was last elected as "Independent". Or perhaps he simply recognises that there are many who can't stand the wicked witch and would like to see her defeated. Hermon depises the direction the UUP has gone and she in turn is despised by many of the Fermanagh farmers in turn. She remains popular in what remains the most pro-Agreement Unionist constituency. However, Kilfedder and McCartney were both challenged by official Unionists in an attempt to unseat them. South Down has changed since the days of ould Enoch. The SDLP could have won 3 seats in the last assembly elections and knocked out the UUP had they managed the vote better. I could see the UUP trying to negotiate a deal to support a Unity candidate in Fermanagh & South Tyrone and North Down who take the UUP whip if elected. Meanwhile the DUP would get East Belfast and South Belfast. East Anglian Lefty makes a good point about North Belfast, I could see the DUP insist on protection for Dodds against demographics. He is one of their most capable MPs, a lot more than Walker who he deposed and who went unchallenged for many years. In addition he is a potential future leader and hits all the right noises. In the mid 1990s when a councillor the Provos tried to assassinate him in the Royal Children's Hospital in Belfast when he and his wife were visiting their sick child. I don't want to see more Unionists elected, I want to see more Nationalists elected I am just attempting to be practical. The leaders of these people do not want to be represented by a fenian if they can help it.
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Post by irish observer on Mar 10, 2013 13:48:19 GMT
SF will take a lot of positives out of the result and the Unionists will think they can do deals on Unionist Unity candidates in Fermanagh & South Tyrone, South Belfast, North Down and possibly East Belfast as well. Of course the new Unionist party will be a feature in the stronger Unionist and more urban strongholds. Why the last two seats? There's already a unionist in the former, and there's zero chance of a nationalist being elected there, whilst in the latter the victory of an Alliance candidate makes clear that unionist unity wouldn't be uncomplicated. North Belfast might be a sensible place to take the precaution, though. The legacy of the flags dispute in Belfast was ignited by leaflets issued by both the DUP and the UUP into working class loyalist neighbourhoods attacking Alliance and making spurious claims over their constitutional position. Both view the Alliance Party as a growing electoral threat in the greater Belfast area at local government and at assembly level. They want that seat back at all costs. As I said above you make a good point re North Belfast and I have dealt with North Down.
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Post by Pete Whitehead on Mar 10, 2013 20:50:13 GMT
The Unionists need to start thinking about Unity candidates in Upper Bann and Londonderry East as well.
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Richard Allen
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Post by Richard Allen on Mar 10, 2013 21:10:08 GMT
The Unionists need to start thinking about Unity candidates in Upper Bann and Londonderry East as well. East Londonderry shouldn't be a problem. Even last time with 3 Unionist candidates, including a very strong TUV candidate (former MP William Ross)the DUP almost out polled the combined IRA and SDLP vote. Upper Bann should also be okay unless we see a UUP recovery.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2013 8:24:36 GMT
Perhaps there could be a moderate unity candidate in exchange for moderate unionists supporting a more radical unity candidate elsewhere.
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Sibboleth
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Post by Sibboleth on Mar 11, 2013 13:38:06 GMT
It's the original sin of politics in Ireland, in some respects.
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Post by markgoodair on Mar 27, 2013 11:42:45 GMT
Sinn Fein has selected former prisoner Ian Patrick Milne to replace Francie Molloy in the Northern Ireland assembly following the Mid-Ulster by-election.
After Mr Molloy became MP, Sinn Fein has decided to co-opt councillor Milne.
He was selected at a party convention but a Sinn Fein spokesman said the decision has to be ratified by Ard Chomhairle (the party executive).
Mr Milne, from Bellaghy, is a former chairman of Magherafelt district council.
He was released from prison under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, having received a life sentence for the murder of an Ulster Defence Regiment soldier.
He served 14 years before his release.
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Richard Allen
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Post by Richard Allen on Mar 29, 2013 12:29:25 GMT
Sinn Fein has selected former prisoner Ian Patrick Milne to replace Francie Molloy in the Northern Ireland assembly following the Mid-Ulster by-election. After Mr Molloy became MP, Sinn Fein has decided to co-opt councillor Milne. He was selected at a party convention but a Sinn Fein spokesman said the decision has to be ratified by Ard Chomhairle (the party executive). Mr Milne, from Bellaghy, is a former chairman of Magherafelt district council. He was released from prison under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, having received a life sentence for the murder of an Ulster Defence Regiment soldier.He served 14 years before his release. Another proud moment eh.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2014 6:06:15 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2015 21:01:37 GMT
Seriously, you go to Jeremy Corbyn. Or rather your SF MP's office does on your behalf. You raise an interesting point in suggesting that if for example an MP does not take his seat within 90 days of election the seat is offered to the candidate in second. I was not suggesting that the SDLP merge with SF, more that they be superseded by them. Then again, it would not amaze me to see SF drop the abstentionist policy, or see them stop contesting UK elections again leaving the SDLP to be the Republican standard bearer. SAF have constantly defined and redefine Ulster politics for a generation. Agreed. SF contest elections at Local Authority, Legislative Assembly, and Parliamentary level. They take up seats in the first two but not the last. This is totally inconsistent as the Assembly and Local Authorities were all set up by Westminister and operate under the rules laid down by Westminster. OK if they do not wish to take up the seat then don't stand. This would leave the way for independents of a similar mindset (rather like Frank McGuire) to contest the seats in question. They could also operate a Canadian-style system as used by PQ with another party being set up purely to fight Federal Elections (BQ). Or maybe they could just grow up and stop fighting the war of 1920?
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