Northern Ireland General Discussion

[afleitch]

Which isn't really a surprise.

And further to that can I simply say 'beggars can't be choosers' The UUP are not in the position to be able to afford to do anything different.

[afleitch]

Which isn't really a surprise.

And further to that can I simply say 'beggars can't be choosers' The UUP are not in the position to be able to afford to do anything different.

What do the UUP get out of the deal?

They get to live

[afleitch]

1. Does Sinn Fein take a "traditional catholic" or a "leftist" stand on social issues, f.e. gay rights?

It does. All the Nationalist parties do.

NI polItics has always been a guddle to me. Voting preference would depend on where I was. So UUP over DUP in a unionist battle, SDLP over Sinn Fein in a nationalist but Sinn Fein over DUP if they are slugging it out. At Stormont, I'd plump for the Alliance where I could and again vote to freeze out the DUP.

[afleitch]

2. Does the DUP, who is to a large extend supported by protestant working class, take, at least to a degree, a social democratic stand on economic issues?

The DUP is opportunist on economics and rarely has to make such decisions (or win/lose votes on them). The primary left-wing unionist party is the Progressive Unionist Party.

I've always found 'left wing unionist' a bit of an oxymoron given that any party that seeks to take inspiration from left wing movements/labour/socialism would be so tribal when it comes to religion. I say a bit because then I remember the Trade Union movement and Catholics on my own turf...

[afleitch]

Seems that the SDLP are very, very angry about the Tories hosting talks between the Unionist parties.

I think the anger is misplaced. Putting aside the SDLP's effective 'caucusing' with Labour at Westminster, the Tories held talks with the UUP as it holds an electoral pact in Westminster and European elections. Talks with the DUP were held by extension due to rumours of a DUP-UUP pact at Stormont.

My gut reaction (and I say this as somone who would fall in line behind the SDLP should I ever move to NI) is one of suprise; what did the SDLP expect? And if they now want to talk to the Tories for the purposes of a Westminster election strategy then I'd be very suprised indeed.

[afleitch]

A DUP-UUP alliance would be (from an SDLP point of view) a return to the UUUC in any case...

If it involved one party standing aside in certain seats it will have knock on effect at effectively 'disenfranchisng' nationalist voters. The SDLP and Sinn Fein would have to come to a similar arrangement which wouldn't travel well over the Irish Sea even if it was swallowed in Northern Ireland.

An alliance between UUP and DUP would ideologically be a mockery of devolution; uniting across denominational lines yet differing in left/right responses to health, housing, education (well maybe not education) etc would not make for serious devolved government. Devolution is not worth having in that case and I would argue it would be in the best interests of 'one half' of Northern Ireland for a return to direct rule.

[afleitch]

Note to people who don't know me very well

Much of what I say on NI politics is probably biased due to religious/cultural allegiances, family in Northern Ireland and general exposure to overflowing extrement from the toilet bowl of tribalism that splashes onto Clydeside...

That is all!

[afleitch]

I can't remember him ever looking well.

Being Peter Robinson might do that to a person.

Seriously, I wish him a speedy recovery, but he's still a wanker.

[afleitch]

Catholics running the country Brexit border issues are a huge stumbling block. The only solution is to have elections where Unionists win resolve this. Then power-sharing can be reestablished until Irish language polices are a convenient excuse to suspend it