A Little Pony wrote: » If Sinn Fein can't become largest party after RHI and a crap leader in the DUP, then I'm not so sure. She will be gone soon enough, even if it is 6 months or a year, I don't see her lasting any longer than that. DUP will be delighted if they hold what they have and just solidify. All things considered its probably been an alright showing.
A Little Pony wrote: » I don't think a woman can lead Unionism. Hope Arlene Foster stands down, get Ian Paisley Jr to be leader.
LuckyLloyd wrote: » For the first time, there isn't a Unionist majority in the assembly. That's significant. More significant is that the DUP lost their ability to raise POCs to block legislation like Gay Marriage, etc. Great stuff.
captainspeed wrote: » That's the best possible thing about these elections, they can no longer block stuff that not only the rest of Ireland, allows, but the rest of the UK allows as well. Hopefully the assembly will manage to get up and running and Northern Ireland will slowly be able to join the 21st century, no longer held back by this blatant abuse of the POC. I'm so happy they won't be able to impose their bigoted homophobic backward views on top of everyone in the North any more - after all polls have shown that there is no substantial difference in support for things like equal marriage between North and South, so there is no logical reason why things like that can't be introduced now that the DUP (thankfully) can't use the POC. They'll also no longer be able to block a more pragmatic approach to things like abortion as well, which could have massive implications South of the border (although I'd imagine that many on the 'green' side of the fence are just as implacably opposed to any kind of liberalisation of such laws). We could see some dramatic social changes here, which would be quite something given that the general trend in Western Democracies is going back on the progress that's been made over the past few decades with the ever increasing popularity of the far right.
pragmatic1 wrote: » You're forgetting that SF represent the minority community in the north and only lost by a single seat. The demographics are changing in Northern Ireland and it ain't going backwards. It might swing slightly back in the next election, but the trajectory of politics in Northern Ireland is only heading in one inevitable direction and we all know it.
A Little Pony wrote: » Next election will see DUP win again and gain more seats. The Unionist electorate will be out for blood so to speak. If Ian Paisley Jr is leader, I will vote for them. He has a good balanced approach about him and a very smart guy who can play the game.
A Little Pony wrote: » The Assembly probably won't be up again for years, so all things considered it is irrelevant. Michelle O'Neil said she won't go into power sharing with Arlene Foster. Unionism needs to up its propaganda and get on the attack, less of the defensive. Destroy the lesser parties which have no chance of winning and elect a new leader of the DUP. The DUP could elect a new leader in a few weeks, refuse to nominate and just go to another election and spark the Unionist electorate into light. I'd be very surprised if direct rule didn't come about.
A Little Pony wrote: » You have to use propaganda to get the message out and to inspire your core base. This election left so many Unionists like myself disillusioned. Sometimes you have to ignite the fire in the belly again. Hopefully this does it for Unionism.
FrancieBrady wrote: » Ian is bitter about them shafting his dad, he won't be a leader.
flutered wrote: » did not the shinners say everything is up for negotiating
flutered wrote: » true, look at the ringing vote of confidence he gave the retiring shinner guy a few weeks ago, after that they will not want him as leader
A Little Pony wrote: » The Assembly won't get off the ground.
twinytwo wrote: » I think that would go a long way to show how bitter and backwards the DUP actually is. The DUP owe it to the people of NI to make it work now, direct rule is something no one wants. Foster should be thrown under the bus for the absolute disgrace she is.
P_1 wrote: » Do the DUP have to be part of the government now? Based on the numbers a coalition of SF/SDLP/AP/UUP is possible but is there something in the rules that mean a certain percentage of each community has to be in the government?
FrancieBrady wrote: » http://education.niassembly.gov.uk/post_16/the_assembly_and_executive
ancapailldorcha wrote: » Don't just dump links here please.
awec wrote: » They'll still be able to use a PoC on things like gay marriage, abortion etc. DUP have 28 seats and they will easily get the 2 extra needed from the TUV and UUP for PoCs for these matters unfortunately.
FrancieBrady wrote: » apologies, the poster was looking for info on how the system works.
flutered wrote: » A Little Pony wrote: » You have to use propaganda to get the message out and to inspire your core base. This election left so many Unionists like myself disillusioned. Sometimes you have to ignite the fire in the belly again. Hopefully this does it for Unionism. it could well have the opposite effect, where have we seen a unionist fight back of any proportions in recent years, they seem to be getting a lesser and lesser share of the cake, at the same time doing damage to themselves which should be easily advoidable
A Little Pony wrote: » Unionism wasn't prepared for this election. We will be better prepared for the next one. But in truth we can all talk about POC and the executive and so on but it isn't going to get off the ground anyway in my opinion. Unless Sinn Fein was just lying to Nationalists about Arlene Foster being a red line for entering into the executive. A period of direct rule is coming and the Assembly won't be up and running again for years. So in reality all we elected was the Tories ruling the place which for a conservative like me is fine but to others they won't like it.
awec wrote: » I don't think any party has proposed any change to the PoC concept, though I stand to be corrected. The DUP did suggest scrapping it a few weeks ago but Sinn Fein refused.
FrancieBrady wrote: » A Little Pony wrote: » Unionism wasn't prepared for this election. We will be better prepared for the next one. But in truth we can all talk about POC and the executive and so on but it isn't going to get off the ground anyway in my opinion. Unless Sinn Fein was just lying to Nationalists about Arlene Foster being a red line for entering into the executive. A period of direct rule is coming and the Assembly won't be up and running again for years. So in reality all we elected was the Tories ruling the place which for a conservative like me is fine but to others they won't like it. The Assembly will continue to run and has before. It is the 'Executive' that is the problem.
A Little Pony wrote: » flutered wrote: » A Little Pony wrote: » You have to use propaganda to get the message out and to inspire your core base. This election left so many Unionists like myself disillusioned. Sometimes you have to ignite the fire in the belly again. Hopefully this does it for Unionism. it could well have the opposite effect, where have we seen a unionist fight back of any proportions in recent years, they seem to be getting a lesser and lesser share of the cake, at the same time doing damage to themselves which should be easily advoidable Unionism wasn't prepared for this election. We will be better prepared for the next one. But in truth we can all talk about POC and the executive and so on but it isn't going to get off the ground anyway in my opinion. Unless Sinn Fein was just lying to Nationalists about Arlene Foster being a red line for entering into the executive. A period of direct rule is coming and the Assembly won't be up and running again for years. So in reality all we elected was the Tories ruling the place which for a conservative like me is fine but to others they won't like it.
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