Peter Robinson's succession to First Minister was under threat today after Sinn Fein revealed it could refuse to re-nominate Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister on Thursday.
Ho-di-ho, trouble in devolution land...
The source said: "We are being vetoed at every turn. The British Government promised us the transfer of policing and justice in May, Culture Minister Edwin Poots has blocked the Irish Language Bill, and DUP have refused to even negotiate on Caitriona Ruane's education proposals.
"It's a progression of Ian Paisley's 'never-never' attitude. It's one-party rule and we can't go on like this indefinitely."
No, quite correct there, you can’t- now, why don’t you go right ahead and bring down the whole rotten edifice....go for it!
8 comments:
Thing is, the British have invested far too much into the peace dividend to give up the world wide Kudos they gained upon being seen to be brokering the peace. So in no way will it be a straightforward London rule, nope there will be a high profile Irish government presence, even if only for effect.
From there.................onwards to the Republic?
That was basically paisley's justification for suddenly becoming Dr Yes, ie the only alternative was Direct Rule with the Irish government increasingly pulling the strings.
But Irish government influence is as hugh now under the present DUP/SF regime as it has ever been; behind the scenes I'm sure also there is a very high degree of cooperation between the Dublin and London bureaucrats.
The mistake made by the Dupes (or the image that they wish to portray) is that they in "government" are the last bastion preventing a United Ireland.
Which is basically nonsense; two things presently prevent a UI:
1. No UK government is going to push NI into such a state against its will.
2. The ROI would not (for economic, social and political reasons)wish to take possession of such a NI delivered against its will.
The Dupes by their performance at Stormont are actually increasing the distance between ourselves and the rest of the UK.
Oneil
Today I was bored and whilst driving turned on the very childish "talk sport"
I won't go into all of the drama, needless to say they are the sun of radio land, people led whilst claiming to influence. The pro English cries are becoming much stronger, a non-beligerent(thank-God) and Irish/Scottish/Welsh friendly kind of cry. I honestly can't say I blame them. The immigrant experience is by and large proving to be detrimental, with large parts of their own country in effect no go areas for your average white. The old racist tags associated with the flag of St. George were unjust, and being proud to be English was perhaps a badge of thuggery and racism. This wasn't the case in reality and we shouldn't tolerate the sweeping generalisations.
I am not a soothsayer, however should we as looks likely choose to plough our own furrow post 2010. I reckon the English, with a new found sense of herself may well take stock and wonder why they need to keep the bad ship Ulster Unionism afloat. It's a possibility, that is for sure.
There's a line in a song by ADF I was listening to yesterday by concidence:
"Black people are not the cause of your problems"
Swap "immigrants" generally for "black people" and you've got a truth which many folk all over the UK refuse to accept.
Our problem is government, followed closely by a senationalist and populist media. It sells more copies of the Sun to say that certain areas of our cities are no go for whites than to say that many more parts of our country are no-go because of "home-grown" white thugs of every class and description.
Field was wrong to tie in this growing fear/hatred of immigration, with the rise in the consciousness of an English identity; imo they are two completely different things, although admitedly they are both areas that Labour has been completely useless at solving.
Regarding your last paragraph, I'm in favour of four simultaneous referendums in the four parts of the UK on which each part of the Kingdom wishes to do. If any part wishes to separate, it will be a very sad day, but in the end that is their democratic right. But I don't think any part of the Uk has the right to make a decision on the behalf of any other part of the nation.
Oneil
I understand your emotional attachments to dear old blighty, but you are not English. If the English, black, brown, white or shades in between decide they don't want you. There is not much you can do about it.
Anyhow, would you include in the referendum in Ireland a question regarding re-uniting the island.
If the English, black, brown, white or shades in between decide they don't want you. There is not much you can do about it.
If given the right to vote on it, there are a fair few English (and British generally) who would vote to expell 2nd or 3rd generation immigrants- even if that figure were a majority it wouldn't make it a fair or moral thing to give them the right to deny fellow citizens their British nationality and citizenship to others. Constitutionally and legally I can't imagine any situation that would give them the right to decide on behalf of the Northern Irish people what their nationality should be.
If the English unilaterally decided to breakaway from the rest of the UK (unlikely I know) then, of course, we would be in a different scenario altogether.
Anyhow, would you include in the referendum in Ireland a question regarding re-uniting the island.
Since it would be a UK-wide set of referendums, then if the ROI decided to rejoin the UK, then yes;).
Prior to that happy day, if there were a vote tomorrow I'm not entirely convinced that you'd get an overwhelming majority in the ROI voting for "unity"- most of them have a healthy scepticism of exactly what bringing Ni into the fold would mean economically, socially and politically.
I smell a dodge.
From me or our political elite?
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