The DUP refusing to let Sinn Fein have First Minister means a December Assembly Election. Will the numbers change in a fresh Election?
What parties seats are vulnerable or who might make gains in any constituencies ??
This is gas.
So the whole 'we have been subjugated', 'separated from the motherland' ranting is all a front?
Sunak etc couldn't give a shiny s* about the threat to Stormont. I expect he told Jeffrey that in the Culodeon.
They are doing the deal regardless.
Are you seriously suggesting that if the grassroots unionist community had not held the dup feet to the fire and had the unionist parties not resisted the ‘immediate full and rigorous implementation’ requested by all other parties in ni, that these negotiations and changes would have taken place. You are in cuckoo land if you believe this.
I don’t know what the deal would be, and I doubt if it will be enough, but it is a very different deal because of unionist opposition.
I am not good at searching and am not going to play your games. If you want to state clearly that you believe I did not say many times that ‘no protocol’ was simply a negotiating position, then say that and I will do the necessary searches.
I would love to buy my next car of you if you are going to start negotiating from your lowest price position
No, I didn't suggest that.
I told you from the start that the EU would discuss the flexibilities in the Protocol. The EU said this as well. A Protocol that was going nowhere.
They have done this.
The Tories are divided, Sunak is in a battle with the ERG, not the DUP.
Once again they are gaming you and the DUP.
I never mentioned anything about any religion really unsure why you keep claiming I did. Neither have I mentioned a UI as past of this argument.
Also it has nothing to do with predicting the future its looking at demographics, polling and election results. Unionism simply is not attracting new voters, election results show this, polls show this and demographics show this, you dont like this fact and keep deflecting from it by trying to attack me.
Not so fast. I hear that the planned vote in Westminster on Tuesday is to be delayed as Sunak is spooked by the support for NI.
unionism has done much better over the last year in its PR and having clear objectives (and we still need to improve lots). I believe it’s related to what I have been saying that for the first time in 50 years we are the strikers chasing goals and the republicans/alliance are the defenders trying to hold on. This is a much sexier position which the pan-nationalist front resided in for decades.
Could be for any number of reasons. UK not able to get the deal over the line would be my thinking.
A year ago Unionism's objective was to have the Protocol removed altogether along with the Irish Sea border.
Protocol remains as does the ISB. Sexy position alright.
If they get what you believe is a win then they'll have to serve with MoN. Spooked about that? Jim certainly is.
With downcow claiming a win is this a brilliant slight of hand by both
the EU-UK?
Give with one hand, take away(or hold on to what you have) with another.
Which would you prefer - having to monitor and check imports in person or have comprehensive digital data to constantly review? (which the UK has agreed to.)
Seems to me the EU have a more robust/accurate way of checking and the UK have appeasement for the ERG/DUP.
you Know right well how it works. You seemed convinced a year ago that the eu would not be moving an inch (except your ‘flexibilities’). The eu, like the dup, named positions that they both knew would shift in negotiations. This is not a ‘win’, as you call it yet. We have simply scored a couple of times and still need another goal or two over the coming days to achieve a draw. Will we go on and win - I’m not sure, but I am confident on a draw as the momentum has definitely switched to our team over the past month.
will a draw be enough to prevent violence and get stormont going?, I hope so but again I’m not sure.
I actually think few in either community care that much about stormont - it seems only politicians care. The community cares about stability and peace
I take it you are aware the the Provos (who don’t exist anymore) are currently being investigated over a recent offence
This is tedious now.
You were told by me the Protocol was going nowhere, nor was the border in the Irish Sea.
As you can see from the image above, you have gotten some flexibility on the movement of goods. But I am quite happy as a member of the EU that the EU have a more robust and watertight way of keeping tabs on what is coming onto the island of Ireland, something which we wanted from the begining - real time data.
I don’t think there is anyone unaware that that is the TUV position. They were clear before the election and remain clear. It’s a legitimate position to hold and put to the electorate. The electorate decided they would give them 1 seat out of 30 unionist seats. I haven’t spoke to a single unionist who does not accept that MoN has the right to be first minister. No one wants a person on that role that annually celebrates the murder and intimidation of our community, but that’s democracy
You paint this picture that you have not continually been wrong and surprised by developments but I think all can see that no matter what happens you will claim eu have not moved.
only yesterday you said that Sunak will press on unconcerned about unionists and the erg. I told you ‘not so fast’, that I was hearing Tuesdays vote may not happen because Sunak is spooked about opposition. We’ll see how it all pans out but seems you might be wrong again.
“There was a backlash on Sunday over details leaking out about concessions said to have been made by the UK”
Who said anything about Tuesday's vote? I certainly didn't.
Again you are trying to construct a win here.
Forget all the pissing and moaning from the ERG and the DUP for a moment, Sunak will do a deal because the UK is fooked if it doesn't. Bottom line for any UK PM.
It's incredible really that these guys are never challenged on British TV when they claim they are acting in the interests of the 'people of Northern Ireland' and that 'business is being damaged'. The info is there to challenge them, business in NI is booming and the majority want to be in the EU and are ok with the Protocol with some flexibilities.
Sammy represents a belligernet minority, but you'd never know that on British telly.
I see that Daithi's Law is to progress at Westminister, and in possibly a quicker timeframe than would have been possible at Stormont.
I think we can all agree that this is a good outcome.
The reality is that eu and Uk gov are using ni as a battering ram on the other. Sf don’t even want ni to exist. The dup only really care about votes - we hold there votes, so they are the only people we can directly influence. Others we indirectly influence.
who are you suggesting might care about ni? The eu?? Sf???
The age profile of the group of people who were caught on PIRA business and currently being investigated will have a direct impact on the coming elections. If they are found to be 40 years and under then it will be clear evidence that the PIRA has continued recruiting since GFA. This would undoubtedly be good election news for TUV and to a lesser extent DUP. Unfortunately it will also give more cover to loyalists who are getting itchy fingers.
I haven’t spoke to a single unionist who does not accept that MoN has the right to be first minister.
I think that the 7 impossible "demands" of the DUP and the naked bigotry that has been displayed by many of its members (including its current leader) leads many people to believe that the DUP's line is the exact opposite of this.
The ECJ is a new one that's surfaced in recent days. NI has been subject to the ECJ since 1958!
Why no words of complaint or cries of "subjugation" and "foreign rule" from the DUP until the past few days?
It's as clear as day what the problem is and it's certainly very little to do with the protocol.
How does that address Sammy/Penny Mordant/etc getting away with pretending he is speaking 'for the people of NI', he isn't, he is speaking for a minority of people from the north. They also get away with saying the Protocol is damaging business when all stats point to NI forging ahead in business.
In regards to trade with mainland UK, N.I.s main trading partner, the protocol causes trade disruption and diversion, significant costs and bureaucracy for traders. That cannot be disputed.
It has been claimed that is the case. However there is evidence to suggest that these can be over come.
It has also been claimed (you yourself included) that ROI trade with Britain has been hindered, but we know that despite that, trading is rising.
Irish Trade With Northern Ireland, Britain Booming Despite Brexit - Bloomberg
The point is that none of these clains are contested or challenged as any decent journalist should do.
If Sammy has evidence for his claims he should be asked for it. Did they not learn their lesson when they allowed Jeffrey to lie about the Health boards.
The DUP take orders from groups representing active loyalist paramilitaries as it stands so I don't see how you think they'd benefit from any bad PR about consorting with paramilitaries.
I thought it was Sinn Fein who appoint their leaders in secret / take orders from Belfast?
It's fairly clear what the LCC are saying here. 'Give in to the DUP or else'
There will be the pretence that this is the same as Varadkar showing photos of the conflict/wr, but it isn't, unless Varadkar represents paramilitary groups as Mr Campbell does.
Any links to this story?
**
Whatever about SF; the DUP taking commands from the LCC means they are in position to try criticise others in that regard. But they do, all the sodding time!
Well this is just nonsense (and that is being sympathetic)
You say “The ECJ is a new one that's surfaced in recent days”
a quick look at the DUP website and here we are from 2021
“Through the Northern Ireland Protocol, the European Union asserts sovereignty over economic and trading matters in Northern Ireland, subjecting us to their laws - which we cannot change - and the rule of the European Court of Justice without local political representation, creating a major democratic deficit.”
Hahaha, you were thrown under the bus then by glorious Westminster in order to get the deal across!
Why continue to cling to the coat-tails of a country that doesn't want you.
Are you all battered wives or something?
Very far from being nonsense. That statement was made on 28th September 2021 (very recent compared to 1958).
Let's examine the context ...
Just 3 days previously Doug Beattie refused to form a United Unionist vote in order to stop SF from having a chance at the First Minister position.
The following day Jim Allister challenged all Unionist parties to veto Stormont if SF became the largest party.
Lo and behold, after 63 years of silence the DUP decide that the ECJ might just be a problem.
Links are below. Check the dates.
We all know the reason for the lack of a NI Assembly and it's got sweet FA to do with the protocol.
UUP leader rejects call from DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson for a unionist pact in North – The Irish Times
Jim Allister: DUP and UUP should refuse to nominate deputy First Minister if Sinn Fein become largest party | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
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