A Nervous Week In SDLP

Posted on November 7, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Again I emphasise that I am not a delegate at next weekend’s SDLP Conference. And I therefore do not have a vote…as instructed by my local branch.

And again, I emphasise that I do not intend to be in Armagh City Hotel next Saturday when the election takes place and the vote announced.

But we are in the final furlong and to some extent, party insiders can make a reasonable prediction based on opinions in the public domain and news emerging from SDLP branch meetings across the north. The deadline for delegates to be notified to Party HQ passed yesterday so the names are known to both camps.

Some of course…notably ex-officio delegates …might not have expressed opinions …and their vote may be still “in play”.

Incidently SDLP seems a bit careless about “membership”. I purport to be a member. I am clearly on the mailing list but in absolute strictness, I have not paid a 2015 membership fee. To some extent a membership fee is a token figure…it is relatively meaningless as the average member/supporter will contribute a few pounds in ballot tickets and “nights at the races” and table quiz events during the course of the year.

It never really matters. Clearly anyone intending adoption as a candidate in a local election would need to be pretty sure that he/she and likely supporters are all fully paid up. But frankly thats only likely to be a problem if there is a real contest to choose a candidate.

The problem rarely arises for me. Maybe my 2014 membership fee (fully paid) gives me voting rights in 2015…I was not at the local meeting which nominated Colum Eastwood (so clearly I didnt have a vote) but I was at the meeting a month later which chose delegates for next weeks conference. Nobody nominated me annd I happily endorsed the people who are going.

I was also at the local meeting which endorsed Dolores Kelly to be on the ballot paper in next year’s Assembly.

So maybe I am a full member of SDLP after all.

Whatever the rules, the first job for Party HQ is to check that the delegates selected by local branches are fully compliant. Likewise the MLAs who pay a levy to party funds need to be fully compliant. Some have reservations about how Party finance is used…but I hear stories that some are “as tight as a ducks arse”.

Either way, those overseeing the Election might expect some challenges from the McDonnell or the Eastwood camp. It is not unduly sinister…just a reflection on the culture of the SDLP.

Which brings me to the strange case of John Manley’s Irish News report…happily siezed upon in Slugger O’Toole that five SDLP seats are under threat at next years election. It does seem curiously timely…but I cant see it as a direct leak in the last couple of days.

More likely….some journalists would have been aware of SDLP internal reports for months. There is not much that happens in SDLP that our local journalists dont know. The lips of some MLAs are notoriously loose…and no doubt, there is an agenda at play. But it makes no sense to leak these reports at this late stage of the game.

For the record the loss of five seats would be a disaster but I cant see that as anything more than an absolutely worst case scenario. The internal report is more upbeat in other parts. There is a best case scenario.

At my most pessimistic, I can see SDLP losing four seats…most commentators would agree that Upper Bann, the second seat in South Belfast, North Belfast and West Belfast are vulnerable but few would go so far as to think that East Derry is vulnerable.

SDLP go into this election with fourteen seats….and I think a reasonable projection is twelve to sixteen.

Maybe the comments on Slugger are more revealing as they suggest not only SDLP losses but specific gains for other parties.

South Belfast….Claire Hanna has hit the ground running and she has positioned herself as the successor of Naomi Long (Alliance) as the darling of the so called  progressives. fEarghal McKinney is doing alright as Health spokesperson in a constituency where there a lot of health workers. Of course, there is always going to be a fight for the last seat…DUP, Green, SDLP. But those talking up Alliance chances of a second seat are not understanding the dynamics of Alliance in the constituency. Ask yourself a simple question…if you were a loyal Alliance member in South Belfast, which of your two candidates would you prefer to win?

Upper Bann….with SF always talking up a second seat (see 2011)  and also talking shite that Cat Seeley would win at Westminster, SDLP are squeezed but probably not enough to lose a seat.

West Belfast….Alex Attwood is in a similar situation to Dolores in Upper Bann and Gerry Carroll will certainly take a quota but at the expense of Sinn Féin. I would expect Alex to hold on.

North Belfast….no selection conference has been held and notwithstanding Alban Magennis wants re-selected, I would expect that Nichola Mallon would be the right person in 2016.

East Derry….not a problem. Look at Slugger archive and see how Alliance were talked up. No selection as far as I know but most likely a highly regarded female candidate.

Of course thats just the downside…worst …..absolutely worst case scenario.

But delegates and attendees next week should see thru these …..er “reports”.

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“Je Suis Uncle Andy”

Posted on November 6, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Now here is a strange thing. Earlier this year, several French journalists were shot dead. Their “crime” in the eyes of Islamist extremists was that their satirical magazine (Charlie Hebdo)  had published unflattering images of the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

Quite properly Western opinion especially in the media was outraged. Rallies were held all over Europe. And even the usual suspects in Belfast showed up at the City Hall with their “Je Suis Charlie Hebdo” placards.

Yet are there limits to Freedom of Expression? We cant shout “Fire!!!” in a crowded cinema. Nor can we shout obscenities and racial abuse in the streets. And of course there are “hate crimes”.

Was Charlie Hebdo committing a “hate crime”? Or pandering to those who do commit hate crimes? Or are there simply no limits? To be frank, Charlie Hebdo crossed the line into casual abuse of Muslims…but of course that does not excuse murder.

Are Liberals (western civilisation is broadly liberal) guilty of Double Think? Should “we” stand up to Islamism….treatment of women, treatment of Christians etc….in the Middle East? Is Europe more tolerant for accepting diversity….but can that tolerance legitimately be afforded to ritual and inhumane slaughter of animals, forced marriage, domestic violence, genital mutilation of women etc.

It is a classic liberal dilemna.

I no longer contribute to the message board, Slugger O’Toole. The reason is…ironically …a cartoon by Brian Spencer. It featured a crude drawing of Alasdair McDonnell, SDLP Leader and unpopular in sophisticated blogger circles. I do not know whether the cartoon depicted Al doing a Nazi salute. It was never clarified. It would I submit be an abuse of Freedom of Expression if he was so depicted.

Of course if you are unpopular …all is fair. Take David Cameron and the dead pig. Is depicting Cameron with a dead pig on an English bonfire an abuse of Freedom of Expression.Is it a hate crime to hate Tories?  Would an effigy of a homeless person be a hate crime?

Now that is interesting ….because clearly there is a power differential. Cameron and his Tories are powerful…a “legitimate” target? And the homeless person is powerless ….not a “legitimate” target?

Yet it is curious how the powerful have re-defined themselves as having no power.

Take USA….where Fux News, the Republican Party up to and including Donald Trump, the “gun lobby”, Wall Street, Christian fundamentalists have re-defined themselves as “impotent” ….a minority under attack from all-powerful liberals.

White, Anglo Saxon, Protestants as a threatened minority?

Is Norn Iron any different….are White, Ulster-Scot, Protestants a threatened minority?

If the KuKluxKlan is no longer institutionally powerful as a century ago….or fifty years ago….the good ole boys seem to making the same noises in the Old South, even if they have cut back on lynching.

Likewise our own good ole boys….in and around the Orange Order seem to be a di inishing force who have adopted the language of a threatened minority.

Their latest cause is a painting on exhibition in the Ulster Museum. It depicts St Patricks Catholic Church and an Orange band going past (as happens a few times every year) and…a group of men wearing KKK hoods. The Orange Order is outraged….well they are always outraged.

I reproduce the art work below.

image….well ok….it is not the original but can I get an Arts Council grant for it. Is it offensive …on an artistic level …to draw a man with a hood and a “LOL” sash (Laugh Out Loud).? Does it cross the line from “offensive” to “hate crime” if I change the wording to “Loyal Orange Order”?

At what point does it become a crime?

At what point does Patrick Corrigan from local Amnesty appear at Belfast City Hall with a placard “je suis Fitzjames Horse”?

Is there a point where people marching thru Belfast with a banner “Fuck Christmas” is funny…or offensive ….or a hate crime?

Does it just depend on whether we like or dislike the alleged victim?

When the Hole in The Wall Gang….an alleged group of comedians….depicts local republicanism in characters such as “Da” and “Cathal”…..is it funny or offensive or hate? Or is the depiction of Orange stereotype “Uncle Andy” and his sidekicks “Big Mervyn” and “Red Hand Luke” funny, offensive or hate?

I dont like the Orange Order. Is that permissable?

Is it permissable….in Art…to make a comparison with Ku Klux Klan?

Is it permissable …in Political Rhetoric….to make such a comparison?

Is it permissable to make a joke that the Ku Klux Klan is even more offended at the comparison than the Orange Order?

But this is the place we now are in Norn Iron. Conflict Resolution embraces “good” and “bad”….the positive and the negative equally. The Orange Order is now a minority culture.

Was it worth it?

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Commemorating Easter 1916

Posted on November 5, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

When I fiirst signed into Slugger O’Toole, just about the first threads I read were about the so-called Decade of Centenaries, the series of events including Easter 1916 and the Somme 1916….rwo events that are divisive in Norn Iron and yet too iconic for Nationalists and Unionists to be ignored.

My belief then and now is that History is too things….the original event AND the subsequent interpretation of the event. The fact is that the original event remains unchanged but the interpretation is subject to constant change.

We tend to see History thru a prism…we see Easter 1916 thru the song “The Foggy Dew” or maybe “Grace” and we see the Somme thru “Blackadder Goes Forth” and a narrative of Lions led by Donkeys.

Basically the events of 1916 and afterwards produced two narratives. The Victors demanded that History was written to order. Thats how these things go. The problem occurs when there are two victors.

Effectively the Republic of Ireland “won” …in the south. And effectively “Norn Iron” won ….in the north. Thus the 1916 story as produced by historians in the south reflects the heroism and sacrifice of the Rebels. And up north the historians give us a version of dying for king and country in the mud of France and Flanders. Both sides made a blood sacrifice.

Those historians who wrote the first versions of what would become conventional History served their political masters rather than Truth and traditionalists will note the revisionism of the next generation …and the next …and the next. While some want to re-dress a balance in favour of accuracy, others seem politically committed to a new agenda.

AGENDA IS THE ENEMY OF HISTORY.

And really no Historian worthy of the name should be sucked into writing for a new agenda. A History degree is in its own way as sacred as a medical degree. Three years or longer acquiring and using the skills to see any contemporary event with a historical perspective….to see any contemporary event on the TV news and immediately think of a precedent.

We have a new agenda in Ireland….”shared” History. It is a seductive lie. The honourable search for a “shared future” needs a stronger foundation than a lie.

The Rising is a unique event, with which I identify …being as it marked the establishment of the Republic and established the fact that I am an Irish citizen. The Somme…a uniqu event…means nothing to me. Both events lose the uniqu quality if they are packaged together.

The Easter Rising is best understood as an event that lasted three weeks …from the reading of the Proclamation by Padraig Pearse on 24th April 1916 and ended witn the execution of James Connolly on 12th May 1916.

There is no need for second guessing waht it was all about. The intent of the seven men who signed the Proclamation could not be more clear. The sacrifice of the men and women who fought forFreedom couldnotbe more clear.

So…a Fine Gael led government can not commemorate an act proclaiming Irish sovreignty by talking about the European Union. Sinn Féin IRA cannot commemorate an event that spoke about about an alien government which fostered division. Politicians cannot commemorate an event that proclaimed treating the children of the nation equally and be oblivious to the Magdalene launderies, industrial schools and orphans sent to Australia.

Those strange people who invite us to join them in their multiple identities….Irish, British, Northern Irish cannot commemorate an event that claims and expects the fealty of every Irishman and Irishwoman.

And those letsgeralongerists cannot commemorate Easter and the Somme together and ignore the fact the Proclamation recognised that the Germans were allies of the Republic of Ireland.

The Easter Rising was what it was …a glorious and unapologetic act of Treason…..it cannot be misused as an agenda.

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SDLP Leadership Election …

Posted on November 5, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

First a few facts…I was a member of SDLP from 1973 to 1982 and voted SDLP until 1993. For personal rather than political reasons, I voted Sinn Féin until 2009. I must emphasise that my wife has never voted Sinn Féin and has always voted SDLP. We are a typically nationalist household and we both have “leftish” leanings. We have both voted SDLP since 2009 and I rejoined the Party in 2011.

My wife sensibly is not a member of SDLP. But we are both products of our West Belfast background. Born into poverty to parents who wanted us to succeed thru good education and good jobs. And I dont think we should be embarrassed to say that we havent forgotten our roots and want to see a more fair and just society.

It is something that a lot of SDLP “gene pool” people of a certain age can identify with. Sinn Féin for all their leftist rhetoric are tainted by the History that they wont admit…and Alliance Party merely represents people like them.

For all our flaws and shortcomings, SDLP has its heart in the right place…on our sleeves. Working for the disadvantaged…jobless, homeless, low paid, human rights, justice, victims etc.

Not that we get much thanks at the ballot box. In fact Jesus got more gratitude from lepers (10 per cent) than SDLP does from the people for whom we advocate.

I am a semi-detached member. I hold no office at any level in the Party and I hold no paid position. Although I have applied for about five positions in Press Office, Policy and Organisation, I have never been interviewed for a post. Sometimes this makes me angry and most times I just feel resigned that SDLP staff are young whizz kids with a smart phone…but absolutely no idea of the history of SDLP.

Rejection hurts. I cant deny it. But so does being under-used in an unpaid capacity. But actually being patronised hurts more.

I digress. The point is that I owe “nobody nothin”. So I have no (personal) loyalty to any individual.

And as a 1970s veteran and a 21st century “newbie”, I neither know or care about internal arguments that seem to make personal relationships difficult.

But one of the things that struck me most when I rejoined in 2011 just two months before Alasdair McDonnell was elected Leader was the immediate campaign to undermine him.

image As far as I can see, the biggest crime that Alasdair commits is that he is “unfashionable”. The shallow world of Internet Politics measures success in the number of times he is re-tweeted and shared on Twitter and Facebook. And of course he is a man who is “in your face” with political opponents….just as Seamus Mallon was in 1973/74. But of course his critics would say that was a different age.

Yet the core value of “Anybody But Alasdair” base is that Alasdair is Alasdair. I am told by his critics that he is an issue on the doorsteps “Get rid of him and we will consider voting for SDLP”. I have no doubt people are hearing this…but obviously not in South Belfast, where he won the Westminster seat against the odds and maintains it against the odds.

Yet his most vocal critics see their vote share drop….for years. Is that Alasdairs fault? Hardly.

The real difficulty is that the SDLP vote has been in decline….SDLP voters are simply not energised. And there has been a curious stalemate since 2011. Conall McDevitt the obvious Leader-in-Waiting left Politics two years ago. Alasdairs fault? Hardly.

Despite a good Westminster election (SDLP held its three seats, SF lost one and Alliance Party lost their only seat), Al has had little credit. Frankly, I think the SDLP Leader should be at Stormont and it certainly means that he has increased the number of critics beyond the usual suspects. Likewise Opposition IS an issue and on balance I support that option …but I see the irony that those advocating it did not see that the time to go into Opposition was in 2011, when the SDLP mandate was undermined by DUP-SF-Alliance deal.

So there is a coalition of “Anyone but Alasdair” (unreasonable) and Stormont-centrics and Opposition advocates (both resonable positions) but it would be a mistake to under-estimate Alasdairs election winning credentials.

It is still a somewhat sterile debate. The record since 2011 shows no great evidence of his success….and nor does it show signs of disaster. He can point to addressing the holes in SDLP organisation, the head-hunting of good candidates like Daniel McCrossan and Roisin Lynch….but even in this area there seems a certain amount of resentment that other people have been overlooked. He has a duty to be ruthless.

Yet Colum Eastwood has a lot going for him beyond the rhetoric of “youth” and “change”…..not to mention “vision”. To be honest, every time a politician talks about “vision”, I cringe.

A Leader at Stormont and going into Opposition ARE legitimate issues. But there are too many “Anyone but Alasdair” people around him for me to be really comfortable. Likewise the SDLP heavyweights who have endorsed Colum need a reality check. They cant go on forever blaming the British and Irish governments for SDLP leadership failings after the Good Friday Agreement.

I have no vote. I am not a delegate. I cannot influence the outcome. So no point speculating. And I dont encourage any here.

I will not attend the hustings in South Belfast (Thursday) or Derry (Sunday).

Nor will I attend the SDLP Conference on the Saturday on which voting takes place and the result announced. There are three groups in SDLP. One supporting Alasdair and one supporting Colum….but dont ignore a large body of opinion that this contest (for two different reasons) should not be taking place.

But I will be at SDLP Conference on the Friday. An interesting “fringe” meeting on the Internet and Politics. I really really really need to learn about that. As does SDLP. It is surprising that there is nobody within SDLP ranks who knows about Internet and Politics. If there was such a person…he/she could say a few words at the meeting. Sadly the SDLP does not have a record of any talents individual member might have.

As I know feck all about this Internet and Politics stuff….I will sit quietly in audience while all this Facebook, Twitter and Blogging gobblygook is explained.

Who knows….I might even be tempted to start a SDLP-supporting blog….and next time I apply for a staff job, I can put it on my CV….and they are bound to select me for an interview.

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Book Review….”The Canterbury Connection” (Kitty Davies)

Posted on November 3, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

One of the strange things about going Online in 1998 was the discovery that everyone I met from Boise, Idaho to Athens, Georgia….was an artist, poet, musician or writer. For the record, I was a novelist of sorts.

Not all were talented. i often dreaded reading the words “tell me what you think of my new poem”

Yet the even stranger thing is that some of my friends are extremely talented and I am delighted for my friend Kitty that her long-awaited novel is now available on Amazon. Kitty and Joe spent some time in England and good to see that the “time travelling” tale is a combination of an eye for detail and a genetic feeling for historic accuracy. Kitty inherited this from her daughter, Ellen.

I like the way that four American visitors (two couples…the wives are cousins)  are swept into a time portal at Stonehenge…and transported to the Wars of the Roses…witch-finding priests,, vulnerable maids in London…..and the husbands getting sent off to fight at Agincourt.

Will Joe rescue Kitty from the stake? Will Larry rescue Kathy?

I cant give away the ending. But it is arrived at by a road that is quirky and humourous, referencing real History and a knowing nod to real-life people from our circle of friends. Surely the mad priest is not based on me?

Perhaps the parts I like best are the exchanges between Kitty and her medeival ancestor, Lady Trivett. From experience, I know that it is difficult to put 21st century values on to historic characters. Or to make values from centuries ago seem palatable to 21st century readers. I am envious that Kitty managed to do this…humour is the key. Or perhaps women are uniquely bonded.

Congrats to my friend for completing the book. She has set a lot of her friends a challenge.

“The Canterbury Connection” (Kitty Davies)….on Amazon for Kindle.

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SDLP Event…Civil Society.

Posted on November 3, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

A high-quality discussion last night.

image

The panel….Brendan Mulgrew from MW Advocate, David McCann from Slugger O’Toole, Professor Deirdre Heenan from University of Ulster and Ryan Feeney a member of the Policing Board. Alasdair McDonnell in the chair.

Audience….hard to judge from my accidental position at the front…but I would reckon about 150 people. A diferent audience to the one I expected. Most seemed to be SDLP members, including MLAs Joe Byrne, Alaban Magenniss, Fearghal McKinney and Claire Hanna. And good to see old and new friends from Strabane, Rasharkin, Newry etc.

Brian O’Neill from Slugger O’Toole also there and a BBC camera crew interviewd Al before proceedings began.

I must admit I tended to think of the X Factor chairs. If only Al (like Simon Cowell) hd decided that he had decided to give David McCann’s chair to the artist known as Fitzjames Horse….to wild approval from the audience. Alas it did not happen …for this was an event for SDLP members to be exposed to the thinking from outside the Party.

I am on record…for years …as saying that SDLP should listen to its own voices. But I assume that Brendan Mulgrew (former Special Advisor to Sean Farren…..and as pointed out by “Brendan”,in a comment here yesterday, he has also been a staffer for Joe Hendron) is a Party member. And although I dont know if Ryan Feeney is a Party member, his thinking is probably not that far from SDLP views.

Deirdre is of course an academic and has no affiliation, it is fair to say that her appearances on “The View” are usually well received by SDLP members. A critical friend?

David McCann. He still talks…..shite. And thats kinda ok because he talks less shite than he used to. In part, he is less in awe of his own PhD than he was two years ago and seems to be comfortable in his role as a political commentator and academic. He is of course Deputy Editor of Slugger O’Toole…and that Message Board is no friend of SDLP.  But David is more likeable than the nastier end of Slugger…Spencer and Nixon, who have lowered the tone and Slugger’s standing in recent months. After the latest catastrophe yesterday, Mick Fealty might be motivated to impose his authority and Slugger’s reputation. As the blurb for last nights event stated…Mick Fealty is “Mr Slugger O’Toole”.

i digress. The format was that each panelist would make a statement and that the meeting would hear contributions from the floor.

I am not sure that the panelists stuck to their brief. Civil Society was hardly mentioned. Rather there was an analysis of how Stormont wasnt working.

Deirdre’s opening remarks were about Education and Skills and she highlighted the lack of co-ordination. She suggested that a programme for government be agreed after an election and before deciding on Ministers.

David highlighted the euphoria after 1998 and the falling turnouts in successive elcctions SDLP was losing votes thru people staying away from the polls.

Brendan said that in the past he had been accused of being too optimistic but the euphoria from 1998 had all disappeared but there had been progress. Peter Robinson had gone to a GAA match and Martin McGuinness had shaken hands with “the Queen”

Ryan…referenced Churchills quote about Democracy. Devolution was the worst form of Government, except for all the others. It had to be made to work. The “fringe” dictated the discussion. And he agreed with Deirdre that a programme of government should be agreed before the Ministers are appointed.

Six questions from the Floor.

“Is there really a crisis in Politics?”  …”Will Britain keep funding Norn Iron?”…..”are we more divided now than before?” ….”what about the Skills deficit in the Economy?” ….”how will a EU Referendum and potential British withdrawal from Europe affect politics here?” ….”what about Opposition?”

i think its fair to say that none of these questions directly or even indirectly referenced a role for Civil Society.I had anticipated that the audience would have made up of the usual suspects promoting themselves as much as any cause they purport to represent. I was wrong.

The questions asked effectively come with their own answers which is why I am dealing with them as a group of six, rather than as six individual Questions and Answers.

So I think it is enough to highlight miscellaneous soundbites.

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Civil Society …The Enemy Within

Posted on November 2, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Interesting SDLP event tomorrow night.

Civil Society…I am not a big fan.

But a panel that is chaired by Alasdair McDonnell MP includes Dr Deirdre Heenan from the University of Ulster, Ryan Feeney from the GAA, Brendan Mulgrew, PR guy who was (I think) Special Advisor to former SDLP Minister, Sean Farren ….and Dr David McCann, Deputy Editor of Slugger O’Toole.

image

I should point out that David is standing in for Mick Fealty who has recently moved home. We all have been thru that trauma and wish Mick a lot of happy years in his new new home.

But isnt it odd that SDLP are prepared to listen to the views of Slugger? It is not as if Slugger has been unduly supportive of the views of SDLP. And while I understand that Mick and David are as entitled to have a view on the notion of Civic Society as the rest of us, I dont understand that Slugger, which claims to have no agenda, can have an editorial stance.

Platform for Change is an organisation that has advocated this kinda thing. And it failed. And I am glad they failed.

At heart, I am a democrat. I believe in the ballot box. I respect the mandate of all of the MLAs regardless of their Party affiliation. They at least put their views before the electorate and the electorate sent them to Stormont.

As a SDLP member, I am not exactly thrilled with the choices the electorate have made.

But there are effectively two groups that are disenchanted with Politics….one is the so-called Underclass, patronised by academics …young teens alleged to be glue-sniffing in East Belfast or stealing cars in West Belfast. We are told…rightly…that this Underclass (and I hate that word) should be brought into Politics.j

I suggest there is a second group that is disenchanted with Politics. An Overclass in South Belfast and North Down. They are too posh to vote. And too smart to allow themselves to be sidelined by not actually being elected.

So they allign themselves with the notion of Civic Society. Civic Society ….”organisations”, charities, NGOs …do they deserve a special role in Politics?

Why is it that we make no compromise for the “Underclass” but we need to facilitate the “Overclass”? Well, the Overclass …Civic Society…is articulate and vocal.

It strikes me that SDLP is a decent political party that has the right instincts …advocating for (among others) the jobless, the disabled, low paid workers, victims of violence, the “Third World”, Human Rights, migrants etc. Many groups in Civic Society advocate for these and other groups and are happy enough to use SDLP MLAs or show up at SDLP events and a photo opportunity in the “Ulster Tatler”.

Yet I see no group actually saying “Vote SDLP….they did the people we represent a favour”.

Civic Society does not do Recipocracy.

Am I being harsh? Yes….I should make a distinction between Organisations that do a lot of good for our community….and the highly visible and vocal spokespersons for the Organisations. Some are merely adding a reference to their “Linked-In” profile.

Make no mistake ….setting up a forum for Civic Society does not really empower Organisations and their rank and file members. Rank and file members do not get MBEs, get appointed to Quangos and get to eat the vol-au-vents at the Gallery in Stormont. Nor do the rank and file members of these organisations get to sip white wine at the United States Consulate on 4th July or nibble cucumber sandwiches with Mrs Elizabeth Windsor at a Hillsborough garden party.

And as you wait for your appointment at the X Ray Department at the Royal Victoria Hospital, you will not see the rank and file members of these organisations in photographs in the Ulster Tatler.

The most curious thing about Civic Society is the “Freemasonry” of mutual support.

It will be interesting to see how many of the usual suspcts show up tomorrow night.

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Colum Eastwood Launches Campaign For Leadership

Posted on October 24, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

So…”The Hive”, Grosvenor Road, Belfast. Less than half a mile from where I spent the first seventeen years of my life. Once a Westie, always a Westie. In the end, around two hundred people in attendance. A lot from Derry and a lot of familiar SDLP faces …Brid Rodgers, Dolores Kelly MLA, Claire Hanna MLA, Alex Attwood MLA and a fair mix of veteran councillors, youth members etc

And of course some journalists and David McCann of Slugger O’Toole.

Ronan McCay from Northland SDLP (Derry) kicked off procedings, reminding us that he is a candidate for Party Chair and itself a reminder that the nebulous slogan of “Change” is not just about the Leadership. This will affect the Party Executive elections and I think a lot can depend on how well McDonnell or Eastwood supporters have organised themselves…how long has this contest been organised in advance of official announcements. And how well the Party members register is up to date.

Claire Hanna spoke warmly of the two of them starting their careers together, attending a SNP conference in Inverness in 2003 with Colum Eastwood. And returning recently to Glasgow and discovering that many ofthe young activists in SNP are now Scottish Government ministers. SNP was then in the doldrums and the SNP had made nationalism relevant.

She said this was not about SDLP internal fights
Taking the fight to Robinson, McGuinness, the paramilitaries and the British and Irish governments.

image

Colum paid tribute to Claire and joked that Brid and Dolores had given up tickets to see One Direction. Standing for the Leadership of SDLP is “standing on the shoulders of giants….John (Hume) Seamus (Mallon) Eddie (McGrady) Joe (Hendron)  Mark (Durkan) and “others”. I will be frank ..I was disappointed that (in West Belfast) of all places Gerry Fitt and Paddy Devlin were not name checked. Of course, no offence was intended and not every SDLP “giant” can be mentioned but while SDLP celebrates forty five years….there is a curious attitude in SDLP that the Party really only began with the leadership of John Hume. It relegates some very brave men and women like Paddy Wilson, Claude Wilton, John Turnley, Ivan Cooper, Desmond Gillespie and others to footnotes.

SDLP makes HISTORY but it steadfastly refuses to recognise its own History. It is not Colum’s fault of course because older members should be talking about SDLP History. And the very young folks swelling SDLP Youth branches need to be taught.
Progressive nationalism
Making Norn Iron work…..education, health, jobs, housing
No point in equality in jobs….if unemployment is sky high.

Colum joked about Brid and Dolores giving up their tickets for One Direction to be at his launch and he was genuinely overwhelmed by the numbers in attendance.

It was a nailed on certainty that the theme of the night would be “progressive nationalism”.

But Colum Eastwood was talking about the people the things and people we seek to represent..Truth, Justice….Victims, the Disadvantaged.

On Opposition….thereshould be a place called Opposition but SDLP is a Party that will seek a mandate to govern.
The Petition  of  Concern procedures should be reviewed.
We have North-South Lite…We are about North-South Max.
Irish unity? ….we must make it a “demographic of belief not birth”.
The SDLP are Persuaders for Irish Unity.

With a nod to 1998, Colum said that there has been enough time to bed the institutions down and now was the time to “move on” to a new path.

Perhaps the most dramatic phrase of the night….”I am fed up with losing”.

That phrase resonated with his audience. Is it fair? Well, I am not so much fed up with losing but I have become fed up with having the right tactics, good players, playing well and getting constant no-score draws.

We deserve a bit better. And so does Alasdair McDonnell.

But has he failed? The glass is either half full or half empty and there is no compelling evidence that it is getting better or worse and thats the weakness in the McDonnell and Eastwood agendas.
Maybe whatever is in the glass is evaporating because allied with “Anybody but McDonnell” serial naysayers, there is an impatient mainstream in the Party. Ultimately Eastwood’s launch is only one factor here….because it has been a bad week for SDLP….West Tyrone, the resignation of Rosemary Flanagan as Party Chair and a poor television performance by Alasdair.

I dont know. I am not impressed by the need for this Contest. A dignified resignation in the wake of would have been better than this. And I am not a big fan of the way Alasdair has been treated since he assumed the leadership in 2011.

Two things. If Alasdair wins, the “Anybody but Alasdair” faction wont go away. And they will look beyond Colum, who is the natural successor. And that would be a pity. And if Colum wins, he can expect his own supporters and mainstream McDonnell supporters to get behind him….but it really isnt McDonnell supporters he would need to worry about.

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The Great North Antrim Sinn Féin Selection Controversy

Posted on October 24, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Let me put a scenario to you.

A political party gets less than 13% of the votes in the Westminster Election. Next May, it is defending one seat in a six seat constituency. And it had a Selection Conference two months ago.

How many candidates should the Party field to retain its seat? Surely the obvious answer is….one….the sitting member.

But in North Antrim, Sinn Féin is running two candidates, sitting MLA Dáithí McKay and Cara McShane. All with the announced intention of giving voters a chance to elect a second Sinn Féin member. It is …to say the least…optimistic.

In 2011, due largely to boundary changes, the second nationalist seat (SDLP) was lost. Six months ago the SDLP vote was around 7% but likely to improve in a PR election.

What is going on there? Is the sitting member not worried that maybe reducing his vote could cost him his seat? Of course there are two factors…Sinn Féin MLAs never really lose …they just get recycled to other duties within Sinn Féin. After all, everyone ahem..gets the average industrial wage.

So why isnt Dáithi McKay prominent as Chair of the Finance Committee at Stormont and a former winner of a Slugger O’Toole award (was it New MLA of the Year) so suddenly vulnerable?

But back in 2007, McKay was a surprise choice to run. The sitting SF MLA was Philip McGuigan and he was not selected. Arguably, he is still the most prominent SF politician in North Antrim.

Running two candidates with the possible risk of losing one of the most visible MLAs seems bizarre.

 

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SDLP And Slugger O’Toole…Catch Yourself On, Mick!

Posted on October 23, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

So Slugger O’Toole has issued an invitation for a SDLP Leadership hustings event with local journalists and an audience of SDLP members. Thats awfully decent of Slugger O’Toole.

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After all, in May this year in East Belfast, Slugger O’Toole did not want to know SDLP views and staged a hustings event without SDLP. They didnt want us about the place. So be prepared for an article in which Mick Fealty expresses  disappointment that one of the candidates (Alasdair McDonnell) has not accepted the kind invitation.

It takes two to tango….it takes two or more candidates to have a “hustings”. And if Alasdair says “no” then thats an end of it. Whether there SHOULD be hustings or not is totally different.

For the record, the SDLP Leadership contest in 2011 might be a useful guide. The contest took place after the Leader Margaret Ritchie resigned. There was, I recall a series of hustings, attended by SDLP members and the Media were not invited….and the final hustings took place on the Friday night of the SDLP Conference at the Ramada Hotel and the voting took place on the Saturday.

Has SDLP been treated fairly by Slugger O’Toole? Has Alasdair McDonnell been treated fairly by Slugger O’Toole? (Slugger O’Toole passim).

For some years, I have fought the SDLP corner on Slugger O’Toole …and without much gratitude by SDLP. In the guise of four or five screen names (usually brought about by forgetting “log in” details)….FitzjamesHorse 1746….Fitzjames Horse…or my own name … I daresay on thousands of occasions.

In May of this year, after the lack of clarity on publication of a cartoon by Brian Spence, I made the decision not to contribute in any form to Slugger. Even if I wanted to so do, I cant.

It mystifies me that SDLP continue to facilitate Slugger O’Toole…by accrediting Alan Meban and David McCann at SDLP events. David McCann  was at last nights launch of Colum Eastwood’s campaign and I believe another Sluggerite was mooching about.

SDLP owes Slugger O’Toole feck all.

If Mick wants to spin the negative response from Alasdair or the positive response from Colum….thats his call.

But my view is that SDLP have been rather more fair to Slugger O’Toole than Slugger O’Toole is to the SDLP.

Dont believe me?

Take a look at this. A SDLP-organised event on 2nd November at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. A discussion on Civic Society, chaired by Alasdair McDonnell. And who is included on the panel of speakers.

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Yes….Mick Fealty.

We never seem to learn. The Press Office, MLAs, Councillors and indeed rank and file SDLP members really need to learn how to play “hard ball” .

I get as fed up as Colum Eastwood. I am fed up with SDLP members telling each other that this columnist ot that columnist in the “Irish News” never says anything good about SDLP.

Get a grip!

Whether the next Leader is Alasdair or Colum….we need to deal with this.

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