Sinn Fein and how do they form a government dilemma

Which vote was that exactly? I don't recall any vote that Teresa May held on brexit with such a slim defeat, I recall her initial brexit deal was rejected by a record margin of 240

The only situation where I could see SF taking seats and voting is to support a govt who would approve a unity referendum, in which case they would also have to resign their seats and trigger by-elections. Abstentionism is their main platform for campaigning for votes, their voters would crucify them if they took their seats

And tremendously entertaining for neutrals is it comes to pass

Being outraged by BS treatment because they felt he did nothing wrong makes them supporters.

I think I read that she wouldnt be running. She wouldn't be the first woman to stand by her husband in this situation so wouldn't surprised if her involvement with SF doesn't last much longer either.

Doherty did well debating Paschal yesterday on housing. Paschal reduced to silence and deflecting when challenged on his figures by both host and Doherty. Drivetime with Sarah McInerney yesterday,

Bingo card result for the utterances of "Let me be clear/very clear" = Full House.

It’s a real giveaway where your politics lie when this topic comes up. The partionist language in response to questions is hilarious.

Both FF and FG (as previously CnG) advanced the national question.

Balfour Declaration as led by Cosgrave.

Economic War to get the Treaty Ports back which allowed Ireland to be neutral.

Irish Constitution.

Irish Republic declared.

Engagement with the North.

Sunningdale.

Anglo Irish Agreement.

Downing Street declaration.

These are achieved through using the mechanisms open to them economically, constitutionally and diplomatically.

SF want credit for the GFA when it was just the slow learners semi committing to democracy and constitutionality.

In terms of the above- none of this is linear. We had the parties often disagreeing with one another (including Haughey famously). The point is though that the parties sometimes did the unpopular or the risky. They set out a platform and made moves to get there.

SF’s role since 1998 has been to on the one hand slate the south and on the other lean into sectarian headcount politics or the daycare assembly in the North. The national question is confined to slogans and puffing out their chest about being a 32 county party. The efforts they make to associate themselves as the “ones who can achieve it” (when they won’t articulate a plan) actually damages a United Ireland. It brings a toxicity to it that would be significant reduced if they hadn’t clung onto the weird brand. It really puts it not stark contrast with a party like the Greens who are prepared to say unpopular things and he a smaller party to advance their primary cause.

The locals would have them down to 2016 levels as that was a slightly higher % than 2024 (pro rata increase from that period given overall seat increase).

Aside from the general polling, part of the issue with SF is they have absolutely no chance in several constituencies like Dún Laoghaire and Dublin Rathdown. FF and FG are weaker in several constituencies (particularly Donegal) but would still have a reasonable chance in them.

Nope- history shows that post violence they brought about full independence for the 26 countries and established the mechanisms for a UI.

SF want a pat on the back for committing to democracy decades after everyone else. That’s fine, but the question is what they did after?

As I said before, it’s night and day from the dynamism of FF in the 1930s.

Francis “who doesn’t know who he will vote for” with the SF coded lingo again.

For the record, I don’t just deride people in the north for voting for SF. It applies all over- the Joe Biden line about garbage comes to mind.

Good for you.

Because I have never voted for a party with which I wholly agree, because one doesn't exist. That's the preserve of fanatical party members tbh.