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Post by thinwhiteduke on Jan 10, 2020 0:11:01 GMT
Matthew O'Toole, previously a Downing Street spokesperson, will replace Claire Hanna as SDLP MLA for South Belfast.
Even to me as a member, this has come completely out of the blue..
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obsie
Non-Aligned
Posts: 690 
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Post by obsie on Jan 10, 2020 1:53:44 GMT
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CatholicLeft
Co-operative Party
2032 posts until I was "accidentally" deleted.
Posts: 2,852
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Post by CatholicLeft on Jan 10, 2020 10:35:43 GMT
Matthew O'Toole, previously a Downing Street spokesperson, will replace Claire Hanna as SDLP MLA for South Belfast. Even to me as a member, this has come completely out of the blue.. Good Lord, that is surprising |
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Merseymike
Independent
Don't vote. It only encourages them.
Posts: 30,318
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Post by Merseymike on Jan 10, 2020 10:47:04 GMT
I think one of the simplest things that can be changed is instead of requiring the largest parties from each community to do a power sharing deal, allow the two largest parties to do a deal with a smaller party from the other community (ie. SF-UUP or DUP-SDLP) or allow for the smaller parties to do a deal with each other (ie. UUP-SDLP-APNI). Would mean that the government is still 'cross-community', whilst allowing for different government options should the largest parties not be able to reach an agreement. ^This Although I'd go one step further and allow normal coalitions, they've got plenty of strands of opinion and given that no side really has a majority there's no point continuing this cross community stuff. That would focus them a bit: make a deal or you won't get the trappings of office. Only just seen this. It's an interesting point. It would require national PR which would stop the pork barrelling - the reality would be that the Alliance party would have considerably more influence |
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Merseymike
Independent
Don't vote. It only encourages them.
Posts: 30,318
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Post by Merseymike on Jan 10, 2020 10:56:24 GMT
Matthew O'Toole, previously a Downing Street spokesperson, will replace Claire Hanna as SDLP MLA for South Belfast. Even to me as a member, this has come completely out of the blue.. Good Lord, that is surprising Very much a liberal establishment centrist, which appears to be where the SDLP is at niw |
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Post by thinwhiteduke on Jan 10, 2020 14:22:45 GMT
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CatholicLeft
Co-operative Party
2032 posts until I was "accidentally" deleted.
Posts: 2,852
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Post by CatholicLeft on Jan 10, 2020 15:43:28 GMT
Good Lord, that is surprising Very much a liberal establishment centrist, which appears to be where the SDLP is at niw Three words of which I despair. |
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Post by belleofbellevale on Jan 12, 2020 11:45:36 GMT
Scrapping Northern Ireland might have same effect...
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Post by thinwhiteduke on Jan 31, 2020 10:43:07 GMT
Martina Anderson selected to become SF MLA for Foyle. Not exactly the 'new blood' which is needed to reverse their decline in Derry..
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Merseymike
Independent
Don't vote. It only encourages them.
Posts: 30,318
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Post by Merseymike on Jan 31, 2020 11:00:33 GMT
Martina Anderson selected to become SF MLA for Foyle. Not exactly the 'new blood' which is needed to reverse their decline in Derry.. Perhaps the SF rise in Derry was something of a blip and it's returned to its usual loyalties? |
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Post by thinwhiteduke on Oct 31, 2020 16:37:09 GMT
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Post by David Boothroyd on Oct 31, 2020 16:54:37 GMT
I'm modestly encouraged that scandals involving Sinn Féin now involve small-scale financial dodginess.
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