Current Affairs Irish Border and Brexit

[Carl O'Ancelotti]

It's great the way all the other NI parties who represent the majority of people are being consulted every step of the way during this meticulous process on whether what is being discussed is acceptable to them, isn't it ? Oh hang on a minute..

 

[Bluerover]

It's great the way all the other NI parties who represent the majority of people are being consulted every step of the way during this meticulous process on whether what is being discussed is acceptable to them, isn't it ? Oh hang on a minute..

Scottish and Welsh Assembly Members must also be seething at the privileged access of the DUP to the PM.

 

[Bluerover]

....and so it goes on and on.

 

[Khalekan]

It's great the way all the other NI parties who represent the majority of people are being consulted every step of the way during this meticulous process on whether what is being discussed is acceptable to them, isn't it ? Oh hang on a minute..

Well, Mark, that’s what happens when you insert yourself into the heart of proceedings instead of impotently standing on the outside looking in.

 

[Khalekan]

....and so it goes on and on.

It is the Ulsterisation of British politics and it is poetic justice.

These people are behaving like spoiled, entitled brats because they have been indulged like spoiled, entitled brats by Tory governments for more than a century.

 

[spectateur]

Just how representative of the province of NI is the DUP?
What was their share of votes at the last GE?
Just wondering as an englishman living in France I no longer have a vote although my continued well being is dependent on the UK government.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Just how representative of the province of NI is the DUP?
What was their share of votes at the last GE?
Just wondering as an englishman living in France I no longer have a vote although my continued well being is dependent on the UK government.

They have no MP's in any border constituencies

 

[Khalekan]

Just how representative of the province of NI is the DUP?
What was their share of votes at the last GE?
Just wondering as an englishman living in France I no longer have a vote although my continued well being is dependent on the UK government.

They garner around 25% of the votes in elections, I think.

The problem is that they are given a free run in Parliament to talk about “the people of Northern Ireland” and “we are acting in the best interests of Northern Ireland” because the other major party, Sinn Fein which has almost as many seats as them, refuse to enter the chamber in Westminster and put forward the views of the majority of NI citizens whom voted Remain and whom want the Backstop and the great deal the EU has offered the province.

But to a Martian picking up the parliamentary debates on Intergalactic News Network, it would appear that the DUP speak for the whole of Northern Ireland.

Because without the alternative viewpoint, the majority viewpoint, in Northern Ireland being heard in the HOC, the voice of the DUP is amplified.

 

[Bluerover]

Just how representative of the province of NI is the DUP?
What was their share of votes at the last GE?
Just wondering as an englishman living in France I no longer have a vote although my continued well being is dependent on the UK government.

General Election results

1997 13.6% - Peace Process reaching critical point and UUP probably seen as leaders of Unionist community at that time, with DUP opposing everything. GFA signed April 98. UUP got 32.7%. Since then there has been a complete reversal of positions as you will see below...especially the 2017 percentages.

2001 22.5%
2005 33.7%
2010 25%
2015 25.7%
2017 36%

Other parties in 2017:

Sinn Féin 29.4%
SDLP 11.7%
UUP 13%
Alliance 7.9%
Green 0.9%

 

[Bluerover]

Telegraph 10.17a.m.

There are reports from Brussels that a deal has been done with the DUP on board.
There will be more to come.

 

[Khalekan]

Just how representative of the province of NI is the DUP?
What was their share of votes at the last GE?
Just wondering as an englishman living in France I no longer have a vote although my continued well being is dependent on the UK government.

They are not even representative of all unionists.

The Ulster Unionist Party, second biggest of the unionist parties, has came out as a Remain party this morning.

 

[Khalekan]

James O’Brien interviewing Fintan O’Toole right now.

Radio nirvana

 

[dublinbluenose]

James O’Brien interviewing Fintan O’Toole right now.

Radio nirvana

My claim to fame is that Fintan O'Toole once asked me to leave a talk he was giving to aspiring journalists as I was pissed.

 

[Khalekan]

What now for the DUP?

From their point of view Remain is way better than this deal.

Their rival party in unionism, the Ulster Unionist Party, has came out in favour of Remain.

Surely the DUP now have to pivot to Remain and vote for a fresh Referendum this Saturday.

 

[Tubey]

What now for the DUP?

From their point of view Remain is way better than this deal.

Their rival party in unionism, the Ulster Unionist Party, has came out in favour of Remain.

Surely the DUP now have to pivot to Remain and vote for a fresh Referendum this Saturday.

Haha good luck with that...

For them, no deal and a hard border is preferable to this deal, because it legally puts a block in place between Northern Ireland and the mainland. They see it as meaning NI is in the union in name only. Completely intolerable.