Arlene Foster, single-handedly and unintentionally paving the way forward for a UI

BoatMad

Northern Ireland would have been thrown under the bus as long ago as last December

a " bus" that the majority in NI voted for
at the end of the day the DUP tried to leverage their parliamentary position to the point where they were actually denying what the majority of NI voters wanted , and now they find they are to be " cast aside" anyway in potentially a solution ( should the backstop get activated ) that they specifically were against

Had the DUP formulated a more middle ground approach , they would likely have had better influence and got a better outcome more consistent with the voters in NI as a whole

I suspect many of their more moderate voters will punish them over this current stance

Laois_Man

BoatMad wrote: »

a " bus" that the majority in NI voted for
at the end of the day the DUP tried to leverage their parliamentary position to the point where they were actually denying what the majority of NI voters wanted , and now they find they are to be " cast aside" anyway in potentially a solution ( should the backstop get activated ) that they specifically were against

Had the DUP formulated a more middle ground approach , they would likely have had better influence and got a better outcome more consistent with the voters in NI as a whole

I suspect many of their more moderate voters will punish them over this current stance

Actually the majority of NI did not vote for this. They voted to remain. That's not the same thing as this and it is the entire opposite of who Arlene Foster is representing! It's not her job to represent all the people of NI, it's her job to represent those who voted in support of her Manifesto

Necro

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

The deal was done in the tunnel and is rock solid. Its just a question of choreography and optics now. Various climb downs, personal career decisions to be taken, and how to present various parts of it to cause least offence to the more extreme ends of the spectrum in both directions.

A channel into it for Ireland is also likely to have been part of the consideration, although that will not start to unfold until the dust settles on the Brexit proper. Exciting times.

As an aside, I have a hunch this possibility was the motivation for Michael D going back on his one term pledge. The last President of Ireland was an opportunity to good for him to miss.

MSVforever

BREXIT is the worst thing that could happen to NI from an economical point of view.

NI needs all the funds from Brussels and London to keep their economy artificially alive.
Loyalists will soon realise that believes are not everything when it hurts their pockets.

Also the romantic idea of an United Ireland wouldn't be backed up by a majority in the South imo once people's taxes will be raised to subsidise the North.

At this stage a soft BREXIT would be the best solution for NI.

facehugger99

MSVforever wrote: »

Also the romantic idea of an United Ireland wouldn't be backed up by a majority in the South imo once people's taxes will be raised to subsidise the North.

It's no coincidence that the most vocal supporters of a UI are those that don't pay income tax.

The taxpayers of this country would revolt rather than pony up 10billion per annum on a basket case, not to mention the security headaches.

Simply not worth it.

twinytwo

Taco Chips wrote: »

Can't understand the people saying they disagree but have respect for her.

The woman is an out and out bigot. On the record sectarian, anti LGBT rights, equality for women. She wants NI to be treated the same as the UK when it suits her, except in the arena of social reform. She is a hypocrite and a right nasty piece of work serving a 1960s agenda. I have no respect for a person like that. She may be a "tough cookie" but she is incredibly unpleasant and regressive.

And she cost her country half a billion pounds least we forget... but why should any of that get in the way of her chest beating

Lucy8080

The D.U.P. insisted they wanted no hard border.

May has delivered.

The D.U.P. funded a front and back page advert in the metro( a free newspaper on the London underground) asking folks to vote Brexit.

N.I. voted remain.London voted remain.

Remainer's realise that they would better off not leaving than accepting this deal.

Brexiteers must realise that too.

The D.U.P. must realise that they have overstretched themselves.

The don't want the break up of the U.K.

They don't want a hard border.

They don't want a deal that would make N.I. a buisiness/farmers paradise.

The Scots actually want what the D.U.P. are being offered.

One can only stand back and watch and wonder at how disconnected the U.K. actually is.

nice_guy80

Brexiteers don't realise anything

Cannot see past their own noses

That's the problem

circadian

Let's hope that more Unionists in the north come to the realisation that they were merely used, and have been before, for political leverage. The result of Brexit in England was made without a single thought of Northern Ireland. Now, the DUP got the Tories into power again but when push comes to shove, it seems, that what England wants will come first. NI is just an afterthought and pawn to be used.

dasdog

Minister of state for Northern Ireland, Shailesh Vara resigned this morning. Rumours circulating about a call of no confidence in TM later today.

ShagNastii

It has been the case now for some time but it’s kind of hilarious that it’s becoming so blatantly obvious that the UK and the British people couldn’t give two shiny sh*tes about Northern Ireland and the Unionists. The view of “Give Ireland back to the Irish” must be at all time highs

The common people don’t even know they exist and if the British politicians had the option to punt NI into the middle of the Atlantic they’d take it.

facehugger99

ShagNastii wrote: »

The view of “Give Ireland back to the Irish” must be at all time highs
.

No, you're grand thanks.

Laois_Man

ShagNastii wrote: »

The common people don’t even know they exist and if the British politicians had the option to punt NI into the middle of the Atlantic they’d take it.

That's the irony of the title of this thread. The 'sympathy' for Foster that she won't get her way should really be sympathy that she has wasted all her life being "Loyalist" to a country that couldn't give twenty-two shades of brown ****e about her or the rest of her "Loyalist" community - and never have! It's a pityful existence!

Suckler

facehugger99 wrote: »

No, you're grand thanks.

Imagine having to deal with sorting out the public sector in NI....

Hotblack Desiato

Arlene and co are simply too thick to realise that ANY form of Brexit weakens their oh so precious "Union".

Still wondering when the unionist dairy farmers who voted for Brexit will realise that there is no way in hell that Westminster will replace their EU farm payments...

sexmag

facehugger99 wrote: »

It's no coincidence that the most vocal supporters of a UI are those that don't pay income tax.

Have you got any evidence to support this claim?

topper75

This all depends on how you judge her. I don't think fish are rubbish because they can't climb trees. My boss in a tech firm doesn't care about my lack of football passing accuracy.

Most on here judging her on raw terms against their own yardstick and their own agendas.

She doesn't have your agenda. She is an Ulster Unionist. By that measure - yes, she has played a blinder.

Her constituents don't want her to sort out LGBT rights. They don't care about taxpayer money on wood pellets. They don't care about the EU. They don't care about the south. None of these things are on their checklist or Arlene's.
They care about the stability of their constitutional involvement in the UK. She has served them brilliantly. And against tough odds.

Grayson

topper75 wrote: »

This all depends on how you judge her. I don't think fish are rubbish because they can't climb trees. My boss in a tech firm doesn't care about my lack of football passing accuracy.

Most on here judging her on raw terms against their own yardstick and their own agendas.

She doesn't have your agenda. She is an Ulster Unionist. By that measure - yes, she has played a blinder.

Her constituents don't want her to sort out LGBT rights. They don't care about taxpayer money on wood pellets. They don't care about the EU. They don't care about the south. None of these things are on their checklist or Arlene's.
They care about the stability of their constitutional involvement in the UK. She has served them brilliantly. And against tough odds.

Most of her constituents voted against leaving the EU. So you could say that they do care. However when it comes to the next election she's still going to be their candidate and because of the quirks of NI politics she'll get in because unionists aren't going to vote for SF or anyone else. She thrives on the politics of divisiveness because she knows that it's all she has to do.

AdrianLM

Well she stands for her brother-in-laws wood pellet company to be exact. Her community got Brexit, an epic act of shooting self in the foot.

Now that's interesting and has never come out (that I am aware of) during all the coverage of the cash for ash scandal, tell us more or post a link if this has been published. I've always said that this was either crookery or incompetence, and no one is that incompetent. PM me if you can't post it here.

Nidgeweasel

topper75 wrote: »

And against tough odds.

Tough odds?

The tories need the DUP's seats.

The Rape of Lucretia

A rejection of Prime Minster May's deal, if triggering a no-deal Brexit, would make Breunion a slam dunk, as the only way to keep the border open, peace, commerce, and maintaining the cooperation and common purpose that has become the custom on the island over the last 20 years. The Irish govt will have plans for this contingency ready to roll if things go that way. It will be a hard sell to some of the die-hards, but there will be a lot of will on both sides of the community to make it work, and make the south welcome in the UK. And create a stronger British Isles block, in every respect, as it moves forward in a renewed shared future.

The high horse brigade

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

A rejection of Prime Minster May's deal, if triggering a no-deal Brexit, would make Breunion a slam dunk, as the only way to keep the border open, peace, commerce, and maintaining the cooperation and common purpose that has become the custom on the island over the last 20 years. The Irish govt will have plans for this contingency ready to roll if things go that way. It will be a hard sell to some of the die-hards, but there will be a lot of will on both sides of the community to make it work, and make the south welcome in the UK. And create a stronger British Isles block, in every respect, as it moves forward in a renewed shared future.

Holy sh1t you're deluded

SafeSurfer

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

A rejection of Prime Minster May's deal, if triggering a no-deal Brexit, would make Breunion a slam dunk, as the only way to keep the border open, peace, commerce, and maintaining the cooperation and common purpose that has become the custom on the island over the last 20 years. The Irish govt will have plans for this contingency ready to roll if things go that way. It will be a hard sell to some of the die-hards, but there will be a lot of will on both sides of the community to make it work, and make the south welcome in the UK. And create a stronger British Isles block, in every respect, as it moves forward in a renewed shared future.

The British would be delighted to get rid of the north. It is a drain on resources and a cause of endless political nuisance. It would be the same in a United Ireland. Irish soldiers and guards being shot by loyalist extremists. A large socially conservative political block in the dail.

A

ohnonotgmail

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

A rejection of Prime Minster May's deal, if triggering a no-deal Brexit, would make Breunion a slam dunk, as the only way to keep the border open, peace, commerce, and maintaining the cooperation and common purpose that has become the custom on the island over the last 20 years. The Irish govt will have plans for this contingency ready to roll if things go that way. It will be a hard sell to some of the die-hards, but there will be a lot of will on both sides of the community to make it work, and make the south welcome in the UK. And create a stronger British Isles block, in every respect, as it moves forward in a renewed shared future.

that was a poor attempt the first time you posted it.

Hannibal_Smith

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

A rejection of Prime Minster May's deal, if triggering a no-deal Brexit, would make Breunion a slam dunk, as the only way to keep the border open, peace, commerce, and maintaining the cooperation and common purpose that has become the custom on the island over the last 20 years. The Irish govt will have plans for this contingency ready to roll if things go that way. It will be a hard sell to some of the die-hards, but there will be a lot of will on both sides of the community to make it work, and make the south welcome in the UK. And create a stronger British Isles block, in every respect, as it moves forward in a renewed shared future.

I thought you said the deal was rock solid?

What is a Breunion btw?

riffmongous

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

that was a poor attempt the first time you posted it.

It's just very very tiresome now

riffmongous

Hannibal_Smith wrote: »

I thought you said the deal was rock solid?

What is a Breunion btw?

Its a decent idea for trolling, but it's been flogged to death at this stage. Trol needs some new material

LuckyLloyd

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Holy sh1t you're deluded

He's not deluded, he's just being deliberately disingenuous. Look closely at his user name. This is a shtick.

topper75

OldRio wrote: »

What? Seriously?
Her and the ultra right wing of the Tory party are making an United Ireland a real possibility. The irony is utterly delicious.

Deal or no deal?Another referendum? An election? A Labour government?

Absolutely serious - that lady Arlene will pull the house down to preserve the union. People are judging unionism and its adherents by their own standards. Big mistake.

There will actually be no deal. As I predicted yesterday the media excitement on the 'dea'l was just that.

My guess is no deal and out by March, but that does NOT mean a Labour party in government.

Tusk is crapping himself and wants a Nov 25 sig. He won't get it.

A UI is inevitable but not inevitable in our lifetimes.

Kermit.de.frog

"Claims of triumphalism in Dublin from unionists and tories completely unfounded"


Did you see Leo Varadkar this morning!?