tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post3859875223084817110..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: A Landmark Day for Northern Ireland PoliticsIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38036119346156545122008-07-26T03:11:00.000+01:002008-07-26T03:11:00.000+01:00"Thick git. Ulster was and is a Scottish colony . ..."Thick git. Ulster was and is a Scottish colony . try reading it up."<BR/><BR/>you need to do a bit of reading yourself - Ulster was the last Gaelic kingdom, before being colonised by Scots settlers.<BR/><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_of_the_earls" REL="nofollow">Flight of the earls</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32748352421502960622008-07-24T23:25:00.000+01:002008-07-24T23:25:00.000+01:00curly15 said... Perhaps it's time to resurrect the...curly15 said... <BR/>Perhaps it's time to resurrect the full name "The Conservative and Unionist Party"<BR/><BR/>No, it isn't. Perfectly good name, but it would instantly be shortened to 'Con U'.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82924512963975288522008-07-24T21:12:00.000+01:002008-07-24T21:12:00.000+01:00"Whether Labour will seek to emulate this with an ...<I>"Whether Labour will seek to emulate this with an agreement with the SDLP remains to be seen."</I><BR/><BR/>If they do, it would destroy any remaining illusions that the Labour Party actually cares about the Union, above anything other than the electoral advantages Scotland and Wales have provided them with in the past.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80010732883013747892008-07-24T18:54:00.000+01:002008-07-24T18:54:00.000+01:00Perhaps it's time to resurrect the full name "The ...Perhaps it's time to resurrect the full name "The Conservative and Unionist Party"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77586218321671025262008-07-24T18:10:00.000+01:002008-07-24T18:10:00.000+01:00Iain heard you and you were grand!Interesting time...Iain heard you and you were grand!<BR/><BR/>Interesting times ahead!<BR/><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://thislittleblogspace.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Blogger Girl</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-62768972204002823392008-07-24T17:17:00.000+01:002008-07-24T17:17:00.000+01:00Let me assure you Iain, just as there was no Camer...Let me assure you Iain, just as there was no Cameron bounce in Scotland, there will be no Cameron bounce in Ulster. Smart politics by Cameron to portray the Tories as a truly UK party - going nowhere in Scotland, at a snail's pace in Wales but at least a presence in the Stormont Parliament. For Reg Empey this is foolish politics - is the UUP seriously contemplating linking up with a party that want's to effectively abolish the Barnet Funding Formula which has served Scotland and Ulster so well?<BR/><BR/>Also risks for the Tories here - not so long ago Reg Empey was pushing an Assembly link up with the PUP - the political wing of the UVF - are these the type of people Dave wants to be linked with?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89437837518902482912008-07-24T16:23:00.000+01:002008-07-24T16:23:00.000+01:00"Had you left your mucky paws off the country all ..."Had you left your mucky paws off the country all those years ago - and not sent over settlers to take the land off the natives, well there wouldn't be the problems there are now."<BR/><BR/>Anon 1.56pm <BR/><BR/>Thick git. Ulster was and is a Scottish colony . try reading it up.<BR/><BR/>but your attitude is beautiful evidence of why the Conservatives should never get involved with Ireland. Its a hopeless quagmire and it will never change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20723855633418865982008-07-24T15:12:00.000+01:002008-07-24T15:12:00.000+01:00Never mind landmark days for NI politics - I have ...Never mind landmark days for NI politics - I have just seen Brown pontificating on world poverty on TV News. Just one word for it really - deranged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11598729499493219782008-07-24T14:45:00.000+01:002008-07-24T14:45:00.000+01:00A "landmark day" indeed. If a large number of Nort...A "landmark day" indeed. If a large number of Northern Ireland's politicians are determined to base their politics less on the resentments spawned by the often benighted political history of Ireland (on both sides of the border) and more alonmg philosophical lines, then it can only diminish the standing and power of some of the more noxious people in NI politics--e.g., Paisley, McGuinness--and that can only be for the better. <BR/> Moreover, it would provide a marvelous example to the politicians in the Irish Republic, men and women who still run their politics along the lines of cronyism and on which side their grandparents and great-grandparents stood during the Irish Civil War.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25458931474786129002008-07-24T14:00:00.000+01:002008-07-24T14:00:00.000+01:00Federalism won't happen - as it means all the ...Federalism won't happen - as it means all the MPs and ministers at Westminster having to vote for a smaller role (and fewer troughing opportunities) for themselves.<BR/><BR/>But IMO the only thing that would make an English parliament & devloved administration workable would have to be a drastic downsizing of the Imperial parliament at Westminster and the UK government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32185274460971710562008-07-24T13:56:00.000+01:002008-07-24T13:56:00.000+01:00"Anonymous said... Ulster , like Scotland and Wale..."Anonymous said... <BR/>Ulster , like Scotland and Wales , are parasitic on England and provided with gigantic favouritism by the British political class which the English and only the English pay for." <BR/><BR/>Well the English shouldn't have bloody invaded Ireland and in the first place! <BR/><BR/>Had you left your mucky paws off the country all those years ago - and not sent over settlers to take the land off the natives, well there wouldn't be the problems there are now.<BR/><BR/>That'll teach you to build Empires!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44814661965659784422008-07-24T13:34:00.000+01:002008-07-24T13:34:00.000+01:00"Maybe the next step is for the English Conservati..."Maybe the next step is for the English Conservative party to be called, er, well, 'The English Conservative Party'"<BR/><BR/>The Conservative party should recognise facts and organise itself on federal lines <BR/>-which the LibDems already do.<BR/><BR/>doesn't mean you have to have a party named the Conservative party for each of the the component countries of the union -<BR/><BR/>cooperation between parties with different names but overlapping principles and outlooks happens all the time in the federal parliaments of just about all the federal countries around the world<BR/><BR/>Why is only the UK that has to have such ridiculous dfficulties with getting to grips with the highly practicable concept of federalism ?<BR/> particularly when it could so easily be the solution to the WLQAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84313551879886580762008-07-24T12:52:00.000+01:002008-07-24T12:52:00.000+01:00Isn't Lady hermon the wife of the former Chief Con...Isn't Lady hermon the wife of the former Chief Constable?<BR/><BR/>Nice to know who the conservatives are getting into bed with!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17680762750883045662008-07-24T12:24:00.000+01:002008-07-24T12:24:00.000+01:00Maybe the next step is for the English Conservativ...Maybe the next step is for the English Conservative party to be called, er, well, 'The English Conservative Party'. <BR/>And as the word Conservative seems so awful north (and west) of the border may be the Celtic branches should just be called (as 'Conand' indicated) the Unionist Party.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23457821861572589052008-07-24T12:18:00.000+01:002008-07-24T12:18:00.000+01:00Excellent news.Make take on it is here.http://thre...Excellent news.<BR/><BR/>Make take on it is here.<BR/><BR/>http://threethousandversts.blogspot.com/2008/07/empey-cameron-statement-should-be.htmlOwen Polleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00567787385096905811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80291533048068541482008-07-24T12:01:00.000+01:002008-07-24T12:01:00.000+01:00Iain I thought you were good on Radio Ulster - kep...Iain I thought you were good on Radio Ulster - kept focused on the bigger pictureAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49813214105166999932008-07-24T12:00:00.000+01:002008-07-24T12:00:00.000+01:00You may sew a donkey to a camel, but you will not ...You may sew a donkey to a camel, but you will not make a horse.<BR/>--- Iraqi proverbRalph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2685682787823687912008-07-24T11:58:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:58:00.000+01:00david: I think dave clushman may have had Seamus C...david: I think dave clushman may have had Seamus Close's famous campaign against civil partnerships in Lisburn in mind. True he is only one person but at the time he was the Alliance MLA for the area, an entire 1/6 of the Assembly party and a former Deputy Leader so rather more than just a random councillor. Full credit to those in Alliance who openly spoke out against him.Tim Roll-Pickeringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12589024696145675963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36908880391680629832008-07-24T11:56:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:56:00.000+01:00Can't say I feel very worked up about all this. Th...Can't say I feel very worked up about all this.<BR/> This is classic excitement inside the Westminster bubble about another seedy little stitch up with the outside world looking in and thinking how conceited and remote the politicians are from real life.<BR/><BR/>Ulster , like Scotland and Wales , are parasitic on England and provided with gigantic favouritism by the British political class which the English and only the English pay for. <BR/><BR/>All the English get from the British political class( including the Tories)is two fingers. <BR/><BR/>By the way, Ulster is even more favoured by the Barnett Rules than is Scotland and thats saying something.<BR/><BR/>Why should anyone in England feel anything other than the usual disgust.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-68437043862942134102008-07-24T11:42:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:42:00.000+01:00I was intrigued by a moment on Newsnight last nigh...I was intrigued by a moment on Newsnight last night. A Glasgow East voter said he intended to vote for the 'Scottish Unionist Party'. Michael Crick got him to clarify, he meant the Scottish Conservatives.<BR/> Which leads me to wonder what the new party in NI will be called. The Ulster Conservative & Unionist Party.. but U CUP seems a bit too close to U KIP. So I guess that means it'll be UU&CP or 'The Conservatives'. 'Pittites' seems appropriate for the orange fraternity as they celebrate King Billy, the glorious revolution, it's constitution etc but not 'Tory' as this is linked to Jacobites etc. Catholic members would hopefully enjoy the Tory (i.e. Catholic Rebel) tag.<BR/> As for the LibDems I like the idea of 'The Alliance/Liberal Democrats Alliance' as it sounds like muddle headed claptrap, it just seems right.<BR/> And not to forget Labour & The SDLP, they would of course be called The National Socialist British Worker's Party, 'EU Non-Jobs for German Workers!' catchy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71094263880065253432008-07-24T11:38:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:38:00.000+01:00Let's just hope eh? Gret day to be a Tory - as Cor...Let's just hope eh? Gret day to be a Tory - as Coren would recommend - a bottle of Rose for tonight's cliffhanger. Excellent start to the day. <BR/><BR/> (uurrghh - found myself watching 20 best ABBA songs on TMF at the weekend - hmm, perhaps less booze in future!!)<BR/><BR/> PS Anony dude at 11.15 - please confirm?Dick the Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02683095612320513712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86231868530328175012008-07-24T11:35:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:35:00.000+01:00That's Sylvia, Lady Hermon, not "Lady Sylvia Hermo...That's Sylvia, Lady Hermon, not "Lady Sylvia Hermon". She is neither a Lady of the Garter nor the daughter of an earl, marquess, or duke. Shape up, Iain!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53714281958592669002008-07-24T11:29:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:29:00.000+01:00"As a Lib Dem I am embarrassed by the lack of gay ..."As a Lib Dem I am embarrassed by the lack of gay tolerance in the Alliance Party."<BR/><BR/>I don't think this is quite right. The Alliance Party has been gay tolerant -- and if you look at their reaction to Iris Robinson on their website you can see that. They have several openly gay members such as Gerry Lynch (North Belfast) and Andy Muir (who defected from the SDLP recently) both of them have been vocal against Robinson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11840618664028304052008-07-24T11:22:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:22:00.000+01:00Iain I diasgree with your assertion that this is a...Iain I diasgree with your assertion that this is a big deal for Northern politics. <BR/><BR/>Have blogged about it being a wolf in sheep's clothing for the UUP. More on www.oconallstreet.com .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65020453764118839832008-07-24T11:16:00.000+01:002008-07-24T11:16:00.000+01:00'It's one I hope people of all political p...'It's one I hope people of all political persuasions both here and in Northern Ireland can welcome'<BR/><BR/>That's fairly naive of you Iain, I can't see many nationalists being overly pleased with the Conservrative Party potentially becoming a real force in Ulster politics. I think this move will work well in the short-term at least for the UUP (becasue they are basicallly on their collective ar5e) but I can't see it being of much use to the Tories long-term. One thing that is fortunate for Cameron & Co. is that UUP has lost most of it's nutters to the DUP so there is less risk of someone shooting their mouths off in Belfast & embarassing the Tories in London. It's interesting to contrast this annoucement with the SDLP's supposed merger with Fianna Fail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com