Tag Archives: SDLP

SDLP and SNP…Natural Allies

Posted on December 28, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

One of the most interesting aspects of Colum Eastwood’s campaign launch to become SDLP Leader was the speech by Claire Hanna MLA. Claire recalled going with Colum to Inverness in Scotland to speak at a fringe meeting at the Scottish … Continue reading →

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SDLP: “You Can’t Win Anything With Kids?”

Posted on December 22, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

My American friends will be unfamiliar with the term “You cant win anything with kids”. It is in common usage in Britain and Ireland because a BBC Football pundit (Alan Hanson) used the phrase after the first game of the … Continue reading →

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Gerard Diver

Posted on December 18, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Belated congratulations to Gerard Diver who was chosen last week to succeed Pat Ramsey as MLA for Foyle. Big shoes to fill.

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Politics Is Generational

Posted on December 16, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

An End to Politics? I am not sure. It strikes me that all Politics is about the Future and if a person doesnt think they have much of a future….typically an unemployed youth is routinely described as “disenfranchised” and a … Continue reading →

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Pat Ramsey MLA Retires

Posted on December 3, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

i have to say that I am personally sorry to hear that Pat Ramsey is standing down from the Assembly. A genuinely decent guy. SDLP man to the core. He will be a hard man to replace in part because … Continue reading →

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“The Commons At It’s Best”?

Posted on December 2, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Today will be one of those alleged great show-piece events in the (British) House of Commons. The political correspondents at BBC, ITN and Sky and the sketch-writers in the major newspapers are already dusting off the clichés …including the old … Continue reading →

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Introducing “Westminster” (The Sinn Féin Pup)

Posted on November 27, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

As the adverts tell us, a puppy is not just for Christmas. Last week, Sinn Féin were sold a pup. They…the Irish Nationalists and Republicans….agreed to hand “Welfare” (ie Welfare Cuts) back to ….Westminster. But Sinn Féin assure us they … Continue reading →

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Deal Or No Deal?

Posted on November 18, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

Well of course there IS a Deal. The only requirement is that DUP and Sinn Féin reach an agreement. The other Parties in the so-called “power-sharing” Executive saw the Agreement forty five minutes before Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness went … Continue reading →

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Stormont Remembrance…Cunning Stunts

Posted on November 12, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

What would Bloggers do without Poppy Season? The annual commemoration of stories that define Norn Iron in all its crap-ness. So the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Remembrance and Silence. And the Hall at Stormont. … Continue reading →

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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 … Continue reading →

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