The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,889
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Post by The Bishop on Jun 12, 2012 12:05:59 GMT
Anyway, re EAL's query - aren't there moves to do away with "double-hatting" in NI anyway??
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john07
Labour & Co-operative
Posts: 15,774 
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Post by john07 on Jun 12, 2012 12:16:00 GMT
It's strange that SF are focusing on double-hatting now, as it's not like their MPs have a big caseload. I wonder if they're considering ending their policy of abstensionism? McGuinness' resignation could be explained by a wish to let his replacement build up a personal vote prior to the Glenshane showdown in 2015, but the other resignations don't fit with that pattern. It is a puzzle. For me the SF policy makes no sense. They used to boycott all institutions even the Dáil Éireann. The Ulster Assembly and Local Authorities were all established under the auspices of Westminster yet they fully fully participate in both. Maybe they could follow the approach of the Parti Québécois and contest only Irish and Ulster Elections leaving the way clear for an equivalent of the Bloc Québécois to fight Westminster seats. Alternatively they could sponsor local independents to contest seats. Remember Frank Maguire who was elected as MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 1974? He was a publican who was selected as an anti-Unionist unity candidate. He rarely came to Westminster but did not follow a policy of boycott. One day he did make an rare appearance and Andrew Bennett spoke to him and asked why he was there. Frank replied to the effect that he thought he would come over and abstain in person. |
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Post by timrollpickering on Jun 12, 2012 12:48:06 GMT
It's strange that SF are focusing on double-hatting now, as it's not like their MPs have a big caseload. I wonder if they're considering ending their policy of abstensionism? Government proposals are kicking around that would ban double hatting. (In this regard the Republic is already there.) SF may be trying to dodge the rush. Ending abstentionism would be a very bold move and would only come after a huge internal debate - this really is the last sacred cow and having sacrificed so many others they need one to reassure the traditional base. |
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Post by kvasir on Jun 12, 2012 13:15:29 GMT
I don't post here anymore due to the attitude and childish behaviour of the partisan Labour posters, whose manner has completely ruined what was an interesting forum. As I have every reason to believe that the Labour posters on this forum won't change their ways I have no intention to post again beyond moments like this] I don't know what you are talking about and I don't really care. You've spent the last couple of years ranting about Labour and Labour members and if we are perfectly honest trolling the forum. I can assure you there is not any conspiracy against you or anyone else on the board coming from the Labour members. So if it is something legitimate then it must be a personal thing so let's not taint the whole caucus. Labour aren't some evil Machiavellian group intent on making your life hell. It would be good if you came back, you often have good things to say. But I'm not begging and quite frankly I think this is rather childish and I bet I'm not alone. |
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Jun 12, 2012 13:17:31 GMT
One day he did make an rare appearance and Andrew Bennett spoke to him and asked why he was there. Frank replied to the effect that he thought he would come over and abstain in person. It was sometimes written that Maguire's only recorded contribution was to have shouted out "I am here" in response to the assertion of another MP that he wasn't. This seems to have been his first contribution, and can be savoured here. Historic Hansard records a previous contribution from January 1976, asking Michael Foot about whether a debate on employment would be a full day, but this may be a confusion for Michael McGuire (Labour MP for Ince). He seems to have made other interventions when he was persuaded to attend for knife-edge votes, and he was modestly active in putting down written questions (which he could do from his pub in Lisnaskea without having to make the long trip to London). See him in action here: www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/1979/03/25/VS250379001/ |
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,889
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Post by The Bishop on Jun 12, 2012 19:20:55 GMT
Like the SNP, but better. If you know what I mean  |
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Post by irish observer on Jun 12, 2012 21:56:06 GMT
I wonder what's behind the mass resignations? It seems very curious for them all to resign simultaneously. It shouldn't come of a surprise that it can be enforced in what is a top-down, centralistic and still militaristic in character party. |
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Post by irish observer on Jun 12, 2012 22:29:00 GMT
McGuinness' resignation could be explained by a wish to let his replacement build up a personal vote prior to the Glenshane showdown in 2015, but the other resignations don't fit with that pattern. This is the reason for the departure as it is chiefly pragmatic given that McGuinness' successor will probably come from the quite strong SF Cllr ranks within that constituency or the new Glenshane one. The subsequent reform of councils will still see SF dominate local politics in that area. The Glenshane result in the future will be interesting if only to see the end of the odiously obnoxious DUPer Gregory Campbell with the elimination of Coleraine into North Antrim. |
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Post by johnloony on Jun 13, 2012 4:19:25 GMT
However I can't resist posting in by-election threads so here's the Mid Ulster results from 1983 A graph like that would be more informative and meaningful if it had the parties in political order (from SF to DUP) rather than numerical order (from big to small) |
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Post by markgoodair on Jun 13, 2012 5:58:13 GMT
Do we have any idea as to a date for the byelection?
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,889
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Post by The Bishop on Jun 29, 2012 13:43:26 GMT
Yup, any news at all??
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Post by markgoodair on Aug 17, 2012 18:14:42 GMT
Still no closer to a date.
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 38,889
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Post by The Bishop on Aug 17, 2012 18:48:07 GMT
Another mid-November job??
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Post by markgoodair on Aug 17, 2012 22:51:44 GMT
Another mid-November job?? Is Ulster having police commissioner elections? |
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Richard Allen
Banned
Four time loser in VUKPOTY finals
Posts: 19,052
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Post by Richard Allen on Aug 17, 2012 23:03:06 GMT
Another mid-November job?? Is Ulster having police commissioner elections? No, and thank god for that. |
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Post by iainbhx on Aug 18, 2012 5:28:27 GMT
Another mid-November job?? Is Ulster having police commissioner elections? That would make for interesting times. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2012 23:31:52 GMT
This graph shows the share of the vote in 1992, the notional results for the very radically altered seat, and then the share of the votes in the new seat called 'Mid Ulster'. Under the circumstances this is the best fudge I could provide  |
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Post by erlend on Oct 23, 2012 8:41:01 GMT
I would suggest that it would be more informative to put TUV at the bottom as it is part of the tradition which you colour blue. It then shows more clearly the decline of the unionist vote.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2012 8:50:49 GMT
Fair point, erlend. I'll do that now.
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Crimson King
Lib Dem
Be nice to each other and sing in tune
Posts: 9,842
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Post by Crimson King on Oct 23, 2012 9:00:10 GMT
Its a bit difficult to see because of the right hand vertical axis is longer than the left hand one, but wouldnt the change show that the unionist vote hasn't declined recently?
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