Friday, 12 June 2009
We’re all doomed (part 2)
DON’T panic it’s only a pandemic! The WHO has finally declared the Swine Flu epidemic as a pandemic. Reassurances were swiftly issued by local Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, the BBC, UTV, and a bloke in the pub who said that those with the virus were just a bunch of whingers with a heavy cold.
The hokey cokey
PUT your right arm in, pull your right arm out, do the hokey cokey… Poll-topper Bairbre de Brún must have felt like she was in a weird version of the playground game at Monday’s European election count in Belfast’s Kings Hall.
She congratulated Jim Nicholson with a handshake, but when she put her hand out to the DUP’s Diane Dodds, the newly elected MEP steadfastly refused to shake the proffered digits of Ms de Brún.
Mrs Dodds said the DUP wasn’t there to be “best buddies with anybody”.
Mission achieved then Diane!
She congratulated Jim Nicholson with a handshake, but when she put her hand out to the DUP’s Diane Dodds, the newly elected MEP steadfastly refused to shake the proffered digits of Ms de Brún.
Mrs Dodds said the DUP wasn’t there to be “best buddies with anybody”.
Mission achieved then Diane!
Deflection
THE art of politics is sometimes to deflect attention from one’s own woes. It would be a petty person who would suggest that the review of Civil Service bonuses announced by Finance Minister Nigel Dodds was in any way an attempt to deflect attention from the MPs’ expenses ‘row’.
But in this climate it was perhaps not best judged for any politician to issue a statement saying they wanted to see ‘fairness’.
But in this climate it was perhaps not best judged for any politician to issue a statement saying they wanted to see ‘fairness’.
Has the old lion still got his roar?
WITH TUV leader Jim Allister announcing he plans to stand in the North Antrim constituency at the next Westminster election, it was perhaps inevitable that the old lion, Ian Paisley Snr, would come out with a typical growl and pithy soundbite.
Dr Paisley said that his former party colleague was "very welcome to come and get a hiding in North Antrim".
Allister, in turn, claimed Paisley’s election challenge as ‘hollow’.
In other words, both sides are saying “bring it on”!
So, in the interests of a real poll, at the Westminster election, should all the other parties stand aside so we can get this all over with once and for all and forget the phoney war of fragmented unionism?
This would at least keep the pundits, bloggers and correspondents busy for a wee while we all return to reality.
Dr Paisley said that his former party colleague was "very welcome to come and get a hiding in North Antrim".
Allister, in turn, claimed Paisley’s election challenge as ‘hollow’.
In other words, both sides are saying “bring it on”!
So, in the interests of a real poll, at the Westminster election, should all the other parties stand aside so we can get this all over with once and for all and forget the phoney war of fragmented unionism?
This would at least keep the pundits, bloggers and correspondents busy for a wee while we all return to reality.
Finally…
The Stormont Health Committee taking evidence for their inquiry into tackling obesity on 11 June 2009…
This picture can today (Friday) be found on home page of the Northern Ireland Assembly website. As you can see you can see from the empty seats, some members clearly have better things to do. Maybe they were out for a jog in the Stormont estate?
But seriously, what were the powers that be in the Assembly thinking when they decided to use this image on the home page - adding to the public perception that our MLAs are getting ‘money for nothing’. Maybe next time they use a pic of a committee at work, they’ll make sure it shows a ‘full house’. Then again, we may be waiting a long time.
But seriously, what were the powers that be in the Assembly thinking when they decided to use this image on the home page - adding to the public perception that our MLAs are getting ‘money for nothing’. Maybe next time they use a pic of a committee at work, they’ll make sure it shows a ‘full house’. Then again, we may be waiting a long time.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Isn't it ironic.....
It was ironic that as the ballot papers were counted in for the election race to Europe, it was Europe that summed it all up with its iconic 80’s song ‘The final countdown’. And what a final countdown it was too, with a surreal excitement appearing as the voting slips were being sifted and tallied to give a picture on the shape of Northern Ireland politics that few could have foreseen.
European polls used to be seen as a simple sectarian headcount, with the usual two unionist candidates elected, and the SDLP’s John Hume securing the nationalist seat.
Since 2004 the SDLP seat has become almost impossible to win for the party. Sinn Féin edged the SDLP out, and now we have, what had previously been entirely unforeseen, Sinn Féin topping the poll and elected on first count. Oh, how things have changed.
That they have lost their one European seat in the Republic of Ireland – previously held by Sinn Féin deputy leader, Mary Lou MacDonald – will be quickly skirted over by the party.
The reduction of seats in the Dublin Euro constituency from four to three always made it more difficult for MacDonald to hold on. However, whatever the reasons for the loss, Sinn Fein can no longer claim to have all-island European representation.
However, the battle royale between the three Unionist candidates has been the one most closely watched by the pundits.
Even when Ian Paisley Senior stepped aside, Jim Allister – then standing as the DUP candidate – was virtually guaranteed a seat in the European Parliament. This time, the party’s candidate Diane Dodds held onto that hitherto ‘safe’ DUP seat by her fingernails.
The collapse of the DUP vote can be attributed to many factors. The party was not untouched by the MPs’ expenses scandal despite the robust defence by Peter Robinson and Gregory Campbell on the airwaves. Also, whether Dodds was the right candidate will be subjected to an in-party post-mortem discussion. Her performance on the BBC’s Politics Show was criticised by pundits and slammed on reputable websites. But, was it more a case that no-one else in the party wanted to accept the poisoned chalice of running against Jim Allister?
Allister’s TUV ran a clear and competent campaign, albeit one focussed on negativity directed entirely at the DUP. Even though he lost his seat 70,000 votes is some showing and will be a jolt to the DUP. A jolt that will have DUP strategists scratching their heads in advance of Westminster and Stormont elections.
Strategists behind the Conservative/Ulster Unionist match-up will be a little more content at the showing of Jim Nicholson. While he was 6,000 first preference votes short of Dodds total, it represents a credible first outing for a marriage that had a rocky start. Whether Nicholson has benefited from the Conservative bounce on the back of Labour’s election woes or not, it will be seen by the Cameron-ites of the UUP as justification for moving forward with the tentative alliance.
But when the dust has settled on the election results, and the pundits pore over the ramifications for future elections the fact remains that we have three MEPs.
In the new dynamic of an extended European Union, the voice of Northern Ireland can no longer be guaranteed to be heard on key debates on the economy, agriculture, structural funding and other pressing matters.
European gravy tastes much better than Westminster gravy or Assembly fudge, but it will be up to our newly elected MEPs to prove that they deserve our continued electoral support.
European polls used to be seen as a simple sectarian headcount, with the usual two unionist candidates elected, and the SDLP’s John Hume securing the nationalist seat.
Since 2004 the SDLP seat has become almost impossible to win for the party. Sinn Féin edged the SDLP out, and now we have, what had previously been entirely unforeseen, Sinn Féin topping the poll and elected on first count. Oh, how things have changed.
That they have lost their one European seat in the Republic of Ireland – previously held by Sinn Féin deputy leader, Mary Lou MacDonald – will be quickly skirted over by the party.
The reduction of seats in the Dublin Euro constituency from four to three always made it more difficult for MacDonald to hold on. However, whatever the reasons for the loss, Sinn Fein can no longer claim to have all-island European representation.
However, the battle royale between the three Unionist candidates has been the one most closely watched by the pundits.
Even when Ian Paisley Senior stepped aside, Jim Allister – then standing as the DUP candidate – was virtually guaranteed a seat in the European Parliament. This time, the party’s candidate Diane Dodds held onto that hitherto ‘safe’ DUP seat by her fingernails.
The collapse of the DUP vote can be attributed to many factors. The party was not untouched by the MPs’ expenses scandal despite the robust defence by Peter Robinson and Gregory Campbell on the airwaves. Also, whether Dodds was the right candidate will be subjected to an in-party post-mortem discussion. Her performance on the BBC’s Politics Show was criticised by pundits and slammed on reputable websites. But, was it more a case that no-one else in the party wanted to accept the poisoned chalice of running against Jim Allister?
Allister’s TUV ran a clear and competent campaign, albeit one focussed on negativity directed entirely at the DUP. Even though he lost his seat 70,000 votes is some showing and will be a jolt to the DUP. A jolt that will have DUP strategists scratching their heads in advance of Westminster and Stormont elections.
Strategists behind the Conservative/Ulster Unionist match-up will be a little more content at the showing of Jim Nicholson. While he was 6,000 first preference votes short of Dodds total, it represents a credible first outing for a marriage that had a rocky start. Whether Nicholson has benefited from the Conservative bounce on the back of Labour’s election woes or not, it will be seen by the Cameron-ites of the UUP as justification for moving forward with the tentative alliance.
But when the dust has settled on the election results, and the pundits pore over the ramifications for future elections the fact remains that we have three MEPs.
In the new dynamic of an extended European Union, the voice of Northern Ireland can no longer be guaranteed to be heard on key debates on the economy, agriculture, structural funding and other pressing matters.
European gravy tastes much better than Westminster gravy or Assembly fudge, but it will be up to our newly elected MEPs to prove that they deserve our continued electoral support.
Friday, 5 June 2009
What shall be shall be
THE hazards of trying to write anything in a time of turmoil is that what is written can be out-of-date by the time pen is put to paper, or increasingly shaky fingertips strike keyboards.
For example, after casting the vote in the Euro poll one could reasonably expect to settle down to await the outworking of the English council elections throughout Friday and the European election counts much later.
Then came the news that another cabinet minister had packed up his dispatch box and handed in his resignation. Work and Pensions secretary James Purnell had resigned, calling on the PM to quit. This was followed by Defence Secretary John Hutton’s announcement that he was leaving the government.
At the time of writing the smoke signals were showing the first faces in the re-shuffle with Alan Johnson taking over as Home Secretary.
Ah the perils of trying to guess what comes next in a time of turmoil! Who knows – by the time you are reading this there could be a new PM.
For example, after casting the vote in the Euro poll one could reasonably expect to settle down to await the outworking of the English council elections throughout Friday and the European election counts much later.
Then came the news that another cabinet minister had packed up his dispatch box and handed in his resignation. Work and Pensions secretary James Purnell had resigned, calling on the PM to quit. This was followed by Defence Secretary John Hutton’s announcement that he was leaving the government.
At the time of writing the smoke signals were showing the first faces in the re-shuffle with Alan Johnson taking over as Home Secretary.
Ah the perils of trying to guess what comes next in a time of turmoil! Who knows – by the time you are reading this there could be a new PM.
New secretary of state
MUCH speculation (again will be out-of-date) that NI Secretary of State Shaun Woodward is to be promoted through the cabinet ranks.
Which of course means we get a new SoS. Who will grasp at the post? It is of course a post that comes with a seat at cabinet and nice digs in Hillsborough and plush offices in the Stormont estate.
And now that most of the powers are devolved and more to come there really isn’t that much work to do. Plenty of time try and save that Westminster seat.
Who wouldn’t want it?
Which of course means we get a new SoS. Who will grasp at the post? It is of course a post that comes with a seat at cabinet and nice digs in Hillsborough and plush offices in the Stormont estate.
And now that most of the powers are devolved and more to come there really isn’t that much work to do. Plenty of time try and save that Westminster seat.
Who wouldn’t want it?
The ghosts of elections past
MANY Euro polling stations in Northern Ireland were noteworthy for the tumbleweed rolling past the ballot boxes.
For years and years politicians on all sides of the divide have been calling for all sorts of parity with mainland UK: parity of expenditure, parity of service provision and so on. Now we have European parity of apathy with the rest of the UK.
What has been the cause of the malaise? Why have so many decided that marking the numbers in the boxes is no longer an option?
This time there were no football matches clashing with polling; the weather was good; and politics haven’t been off the headlines locally for the past 12 weeks both locally and nationally.
Perhaps that was the cause. Only true political anoraks can seriously enjoy watching politicians making excuses day in and day out.
For years and years politicians on all sides of the divide have been calling for all sorts of parity with mainland UK: parity of expenditure, parity of service provision and so on. Now we have European parity of apathy with the rest of the UK.
What has been the cause of the malaise? Why have so many decided that marking the numbers in the boxes is no longer an option?
This time there were no football matches clashing with polling; the weather was good; and politics haven’t been off the headlines locally for the past 12 weeks both locally and nationally.
Perhaps that was the cause. Only true political anoraks can seriously enjoy watching politicians making excuses day in and day out.
The ‘yer havin’ a laugh section’
NAOMI Long took top spot at Belfast when she was elected Lord Mayor of Monday, the first woman to hold the post in 30 years.
In an astonishing show of taking the proverbial p*** the DUP and UUP rounded on her saying that as she was also an MLA she shouldn’t be double jobbing and that she couldn’t do both jobs and should focus on one or the other.
Which, by any stretch of the imagination must mean that any MLA who was also an MP (and some cases a councillor too) can’t do both (or all three) jobs.
That logic also means that for years every MLA who was a councillor, MLA and/or MP wasn’t focused on their job…no wonder they had such a difficult time getting any decisions made at Stormont!
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