The D.U. Peanut

Prepare for a possible shock. De Brun might not win a Euro seat

I thought that this was possibly going to be a watershed election on the Unionist side but only the unionist side with Alban Maginnis having only a sniff if something unusual happened, such as a disproportionate turnout to give him an outside chance of winning.     On further examination, we could be in for an upset [...]

The Conservatives and the UUP should extend their agreement as early as possible

What’s really the definition of a disaster at next week’s polls from the point of view of the DUP? If you believe what the DUP are saying, Sinn Fein topping the poll will be a disaster.  Is that really it? If one assumes that Jim Nicholson does not take votes from the DUP, a topping [...]

England needs a new anthem for its team sports

All over the Unionist blogasphere, posts are being written on various strands of debate about political attitudes to culture, identity and the state of the Union of Britain and Northern Ireland.    I have not talked much about England.  Yesterday, O’Neill on “A pint of Unionist Lite” discussed the identity crisis facing England.  It is surely [...]

Sir Hugh: “society needs to face up to sectarianism”

Yesterday, I published a post regarding the murder of Kevin McDaid.  In that post, I highlighted the fact that sectarianism was society’s common enemy and that the Conservatives and UUP needed to invest in policies to combat sectarianism.   Today, the Belfast Telegraph has published an interview given by the Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde about [...]

MP couple close to Peter and Iris Robinson set to leave Westminster over expenses

Yesterday, it was announced that Conservative MPs Nicholas and Anne Winterton would not be standing as MPs in their constituencies at the next general election.    Their reason for leaving appears to be connected with the MP expenses scandal as revealed by yesterday’s Daily Telegraph.    On January 27th 2009, a report appeared in the Belfast Newsletter [...]

McDaid murder – sectarianism is Northern Ireland’s common enemy

During the troubles, there were many sectarian murders.  There have been a few since then but I do not recall hearing about one in Northern Ireland since an arson attack a few years ago.  Then on Sunday, there was the chilling murder of Kevin McDaid of Coleraine.    My heart goes out to his widow and family.  [...]

Incremental evolution – not revolution – is the way forward for the UUP

A situation that has worried Northern Ireland Conservatives for some time, both before and since the Conservative-UUP pact, is the relationship between the Ulster Unionists and the Orange Order.    Only three months ago, I was amongst the “hawks” in the Conservative Party who wanted to see every available measure being taken, as quickly as possible, [...]

Cameron Direct in Ballymena

It took a long time coming.  Unfortunately, this video could not be broadcast live because of lack of internet coverage in the area.  That was a pity.  Here it is.  This was David Cameron in Ballymena last Thursday.  Better late than never. For a report from a blogger who was at the event, see Three [...]

Election criticisms of the DUP highlight all that is wrong with Northern Ireland politics

Visiting the duppantsonfire website does not just provide laughs. A great deal of what is said on it highlights what is wrong with Northern Ireland politics and its present constitutional arrangements.    Consider this example.  Diane Dodds had said that “other Unionist parties attack the DUP whilst the DUP’s battle is with Sinn Fein.”  This piece [...]