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@Sentinel1.

Your info is correct. There was a wood chip scandal in NI, and the power sharing agreement collapsed as a result.

 Knockagh wrote:
I'm giving up. I've learnt several things today. Mostly how little the English care about the union and how shamefully uneducated many of them can be about their neighbours. It's very sad. As someone who loves England, Wales, Scotland and NI and views our collective nations as a family I've found the hatred poured on my country and its people today on social media depressing beyond words.
Spin and GIFs on social media are what people consider education and knowledge on a people's history. This plays directly into the hands of the history rewriters.

Eh. Ever was it thus. I'm personally finding a degree of joy in the growing realisation by the rest of the UK that yes, Northern Ireland still exists. Oh, and they have politicians who might now hold the balance of power in the UK. And that many of these politicians are CRAZY.

To which the next question is going to be "have these guys always been this crazy?" to which we get to reply "No, they've calmed down a fair bit recently"

Enjoy the realisation that the UK is considerably more than one country, folks

(Also - good to seem more Northern Ireland location tags popping up in the UK politics section)

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 r_squared wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
...Automatically Appended Next Post:

 r_squared wrote:
What's interested me is that we've just had a run of commentary on here that suggested that Brexit is a terrible idea, and instead of defending it, it's supporters have basically said it's a done deal that we can't get out of rather than defending it's integrity as a good idea.

How interesting.

I would vote for Brexit again tomorrow. I have no regrets. Just because the Tories can't organise a funeral in a graveyard, doesn't mean that leaving the EU is a bad idea...

Just because you'll vote for it again, doesn't mean it's a good idea either.

That's true, but we are were we are. The DUP supported Leave, so I think Brexit will continue on its merry way.

You're also forgetting that Corbyn has been anti-EEC/EU for decades, something a lot of his supporters seem to have overlooked.

I've remembered that, and to be fair, his other policies outweighed my concerns, you cant have everything after all. Like I mentioned, I'm as happy as a pig in gak. The tories will reap the whirlwind of Brexit, Labour will sort themselves out, finally, and the next general election has a whole new generation active and charged and politically motivated.
It's going to be great.


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 Graphite wrote:

 Knockagh wrote:
I'm giving up. I've learnt several things today. Mostly how little the English care about the union and how shamefully uneducated many of them can be about their neighbours. It's very sad. As someone who loves England, Wales, Scotland and NI and views our collective nations as a family I've found the hatred poured on my country and its people today on social media depressing beyond words.
Spin and GIFs on social media are what people consider education and knowledge on a people's history. This plays directly into the hands of the history rewriters.

Eh. Ever was it thus. I'm personally finding a degree of joy in the growing realisation by the rest of the UK that yes, Northern Ireland still exists. Oh, and they have politicians who might now hold the balance of power in the UK. And that many of these politicians are CRAZY.

To which the next question is going to be "have these guys always been this crazy?" to which we get to reply "No, they've calmed down a fair bit recently"

Enjoy the realisation that the UK is considerably more than one country, folks

(Also - good to seem more Northern Ireland location tags popping up in the UK politics section)

Also good to see more faces, period.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


I disagree. In the last 100 years, the Conservatives have been in power for what, 80% of the time? And many of their supporters and MPs would have been university educated.

That's different - University was for the elites for a large period of time, so it was entrenched elitism that favoured the Tories. It's now open to the 'masses'. All surveys point to that when applied to population as a whole, that the higher the education level the more likely you are to vote towards the left.




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 Sentinel1 wrote:

I think it is more a matter of now the process has started it has to be finished, should the public want to think again after that, well then it is up to the ruling party to make the call

Yeah don't worry the day after we leave the EU I'm sure there will be a parliamentary petition to join the EU. This issue isn't going away for a long time regardless of how fed up some people are with it!


Well last seat has been called. Kensington has swung to Labour by 20 votes. The Daily Fail now has a Labour MP.

Least one thing ... We may learn about NI political systems and parties...

Like I thought DUP where not as turned out, a new even more conservative breed of the conservative party that makes them look positively liberal in places.

Shin fein just .. Do what exactly of any note in parlinent.

Others... Guess Irish politics now has a big interest in London's normal English centric/scot, Welsh parties.


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 Whirlwind wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


I disagree. In the last 100 years, the Conservatives have been in power for what, 80% of the time? And many of their supporters and MPs would have been university educated.

That's different - University was for the elites for a large period of time, so it was entrenched elitism that favoured the Tories. It's now open to the 'masses'. All surveys point to that when applied to population as a whole, that the higher the education level the more likely you are to vote towards the left.




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 Sentinel1 wrote:

I think it is more a matter of now the process has started it has to be finished, should the public want to think again after that, well then it is up to the ruling party to make the call

Yeah don't worry the day after we leave the EU I'm sure there will be a parliamentary petition to join the EU. This issue isn't going away for a long time regardless of how fed up some people are with it!


Well last seat has been called. Kensington has swung to Labour by 20 votes. The Daily Fail now has a Labour MP.

Labour MP makes sign of cross as they come into sight of the towering headquarters of there greatest foe and dark lord sauron?

 Knockagh wrote:
I'm giving up. I've learnt several things today. Mostly how little the English care about the union and how shamefully uneducated many of them can be about their neighbours. It's very sad. As someone who loves England, Wales, Scotland and NI and views our collective nations as a family I've found the hatred poured on my country and its people today on social media depressing beyond words.
Spin and GIFs on social media are what people consider education and knowledge on a people's history. This plays directly into the hands of the history rewriters.

People in Britain really do have no clue about our politics or even that we exist I remember one of my friends from Uni who lives in England but came to Queens his friends thought they needed euros to come over and didn't realise we had real cities

Personally I think the shock and anger that has been outpoured towards the DUP is pretty understandable, even if you take away the terrorist links and support (which does exist ) there homophobic beliefs and general bible bashing attitude is going to shock people who haven't been exposed to it before as I really think even those like myself who are completely opposed to them have become numb to their beliefs slightly. I'd say if before yesterday you had told a random passer by in the streets of England the DUP's 'greatest hits' they'd have thought it was quotes from a Trump rally or something.

I wouldn't call it re-writing I think its more due to social media we're seeing everyone's side of the stories is being seen and heard. This really is living history and I wonder if this is the end of the victor writing history and everyone knowing what really happened.

I think the DUP= terror supporter that's going around is more a response to the absolute bollocks being pushed that Corbyn was in love with the IRA, and now the shoe's on the other foot there is not a word.

 gianlucafiorentini123 wrote:

 Knockagh wrote:
I'm giving up. I've learnt several things today. Mostly how little the English care about the union and how shamefully uneducated many of them can be about their neighbours. It's very sad. As someone who loves England, Wales, Scotland and NI and views our collective nations as a family I've found the hatred poured on my country and its people today on social media depressing beyond words.
Spin and GIFs on social media are what people consider education and knowledge on a people's history. This plays directly into the hands of the history rewriters.

People in Britain really do have no clue about our politics or even that we exist I remember one of my friends from Uni who lives in England but came to Queens his friends thought they needed euros to come over and didn't realise we had real cities

Personally I think the shock and anger that has been outpoured towards the DUP is pretty understandable, even if you take away the terrorist links and support (which does exist ) there homophobic beliefs and general bible bashing attitude is going to shock people who haven't been exposed to it before as I really think even those like myself who are completely opposed to them have become numb to their beliefs slightly. I'd say if before yesterday you had told a random passer by in the streets of England the DUP's 'greatest hits' they'd have thought it was quotes from a Trump rally or something.

I wouldn't call it re-writing I think its more due to social media we're seeing everyone's side of the stories is being seen and heard. This really is living history and I wonder if this is the end of the victor writing history and everyone knowing what really happened.

I think that in Part NI is almost self contained with own parties, own systems of government, the other 3 nations all stand candidates from the big parties. NI os different in many ways the the politics we know.

 Graphite wrote:

 Knockagh wrote:
I'm giving up. I've learnt several things today. Mostly how little the English care about the union and how shamefully uneducated many of them can be about their neighbours. It's very sad. As someone who loves England, Wales, Scotland and NI and views our collective nations as a family I've found the hatred poured on my country and its people today on social media depressing beyond words.
Spin and GIFs on social media are what people consider education and knowledge on a people's history. This plays directly into the hands of the history rewriters.

Eh. Ever was it thus. I'm personally finding a degree of joy in the growing realisation by the rest of the UK that yes, Northern Ireland still exists. Oh, and they have politicians who might now hold the balance of power in the UK. And that many of these politicians are CRAZY.

To which the next question is going to be "have these guys always been this crazy?" to which we get to reply "No, they've calmed down a fair bit recently"

Enjoy the realisation that the UK is considerably more than one country, folks

(Also - good to seem more Northern Ireland location tags popping up in the UK politics section)

Nary a truer word was spoken.
Unionism was only ever a two way street when it suited Westminster. Even your darling Churchill campaigned hard for Irish home rule, and it was very nearly enacted! Don't think for a second TM and her Conservative (and Unionist when it suits them) give a feth about how Brexit effects NI.

Its already evident in the polling results. Its practically confirming to Nationalist voters that there is zero point in having an SDLP representative in Westminster because Westminster don't want anything to do with a European Ireland, so SF are picking up lots of support and abstaining all the way. The more support SF get the more the Unionist voters feel they have to consolidate their support behind the DUP to stay on top.

Its pushing voters to support two parties that are demonstrably incapable of governing effectively. And so we're left with a bunch insurgents bent of wresting power form the government and a bunch of cronies exploiting their authority to line their pockets.

I understand why one might despair of NI politics but ignoring us only perpetuates the problem where supporting less ideologically entrenched parties who show a spark of initiative and enthusiasm for change might go a long way to breaking the stalemate that we are so used to seeing in Stormont.

So, not sure if it's been posted here yet, but according to Frank Cottrell-Boyce on twitter, Sinn Fein are saying the Tory/DUP alliance is in contravention of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

 Robin5t wrote:
So, not sure if it's been posted here yet, but according to Frank Cottrell-Boyce on twitter, Sinn Fein are saying the Tory/DUP alliance is in contravention of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Not seen anything flash up on news yet about that yet.

Yeah, he's the only source as it stands, so take with a pinch of salt.

 Graphite wrote:
There is going to be a degree of... re-education about Northern Irish politics.

Oh yes. Yes there will.

Seems like playing with a live grenade if you ask me. May must be desperate.


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 feeder wrote:
I think the DUP= terror supporter that's going around is more a response to the absolute bollocks being pushed that Corbyn was in love with the IRA, and now the shoe's on the other foot there is not a word.

I'd be surprised if there were no orange order members in DUF.

 Whirlwind wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


Young people voting is obviously a good thing, but let's not forget that young get jobs and houses, get old, and tend to drift to the right.

The problem is we don't really know this because there's an added complication that hasn't been there before. It's called education; generally this makes them more socially aware and higher educations usually relates to more left wing votes. We could be on the cusp of changing politics as the 90's and millennials have significantly better education and that might trump the age = conservative. We'll probably know over the next 15-20 years. If education trumps age then we will see a slow push of elderly voters moving towards left wing policies over time. Perhaps it is already happening, Tory supporter (as in those that have joined the party) base is already aging rapidly.

That's what I think too.

Older people are more right wing because the world they grew up in was more right wing, not because ageing causes right-wing-ness.



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 r_squared wrote:
What's interested me is that we've just had a run of commentary on here that suggested that Brexit is a terrible idea, and instead of defending it, it's supporters have basically said it's a done deal that we can't get out of rather than defending it's integrity as a good idea.

How interesting.

No-one has ever come up with a convincing argument on the economic benefits of Brexit. The best people can say is that by hard work we can find stuff to replace what we're going to lose. E.g. if the Germans don't want to sell us cars we can buy Korean ones. If we reduce our exports to Europe we can try to make deals to increase our exports to Canada and India.

The "genuine" "benefits" are to do with "sovereignty". This is a far woolier and more emotional area. It has some clear downsides, too, such as arbitrary immigration restrictions damaging the education and research sector's ability to attract international professors, students and collaboration.


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Interestingly, the Scottish Conservative's leader has publicly raised concerns about May teaming up with the DUP. The Scottish Conservatives have 13 seats at Westminster, so May will need to tread carefully.

I have been very impressed with Ruth Davidson since watching her performance in the Referendum debates last year.

 Kilkrazy wrote:

 Whirlwind wrote:

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:


Young people voting is obviously a good thing, but let's not forget that young get jobs and houses, get old, and tend to drift to the right.

The problem is we don't really know this because there's an added complication that hasn't been there before. It's called education; generally this makes them more socially aware and higher educations usually relates to more left wing votes. We could be on the cusp of changing politics as the 90's and millennials have significantly better education and that might trump the age = conservative. We'll probably know over the next 15-20 years. If education trumps age then we will see a slow push of elderly voters moving towards left wing policies over time. Perhaps it is already happening, Tory supporter (as in those that have joined the party) base is already aging rapidly.

That's what I think too.

Older people are more right wing because the world they grew up in was more right wing, not because ageing causes right-wing-ness.



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 r_squared wrote:
What's interested me is that we've just had a run of commentary on here that suggested that Brexit is a terrible idea, and instead of defending it, it's supporters have basically said it's a done deal that we can't get out of rather than defending it's integrity as a good idea.

How interesting.

No-one has ever come up with a convincing argument on the economic benefits of Brexit. The best people can say is that by hard work we can find stuff to replace what we're going to lose. E.g. if the Germans don't want to sell us cars we can buy Korean ones. If we reduce our exports to Europe we can try to make deals to increase our exports to Canada and India.

The "genuine" "benefits" are to do with "sovereignty". This is a far woolier and more emotional area. It has some clear downsides, too, such as arbitrary immigration restrictions damaging the education and research sector's ability to attract international professors, students and collaboration.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Interestingly, the Scottish Conservative's leader has publicly raised concerns about May teaming up with the DUP. The Scottish Conservatives have 13 seats at Westminster, so May will need to tread carefully.

I have been very impressed with Ruth Davidson since watching her performance in the Referendum debates last year.

Hmmm maybe partly stem from she is gay, and DUP are not most openly friendly party to those of a different sexual orientation.
Even politics people have gut feelings and they do somewhat clash here.

Ageing = Right Wing stuff.

There is certainly evidence that as one gains in life in terms of wealth and property, one naturally becomes more conservative to protect the gains of your hard work.

But, millennial and the slightly older (I just turned 37)....well generally, we ain't got much beyond debt, crap paying jobs and a lifetime of renting property. That's not what our parents enjoyed.

So in short, we've not got a whole lot to defend or to scaremonger.

I mean, it's hard to break out the 'but what of my house price, WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF MY HOUSE PRICE' when property ownership is either a distant pipe dream, or a serious millstone round the neck.

And where does much of that and similar sentiment stem from? The gutter press. They're the ones regularly banging on and on about property prices, oh noes immigrants, 'everyone gets something for free buy you' etc etc. But the younger you are, the less likely you are to be a regular consumer of such bigoted nonsense - we tend to get our news and views from social media. And having grown up with it (well ok, I didn't have the Internet until I was 18!), we're more likely as a demograph to fact check what we're being told.

It's a generation that's being roundly ignored except when it was time for yet another political shafting. And it's quite an angry generation because of that. We've had to watch the generations before us pull away the ladders and rig the market solely in its own favour with nothing but help and encouragement from the political powers.

So whilst conservatism does naturally occur later in life, I have to question just how much that generation is going to shift that way.

I'm willing to bet nowhere near our parents extent.

 Kilkrazy wrote:


The "genuine" "benefits" are to do with "sovereignty". This is a far woolier and more emotional area.

I can't comment on the economic side of Brexit with any authority, but the issue of sovereignty is nowhere near as nebulous and intangible as you seem to bee suggesting. It's a very real matter of legal rules and legal authority with ramifications just as important as the economy.

Jordan Peterson actually makes some pretty good points on this. The main aspects being:
1) The EU formed too quickly, hard to design as opposed to the natural formation of the States
2) Countries were included that simply weren't compatible on a lower level of governance (Greek corruption and widespread refusal to pay income tax being a big one)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jordan+peterson+eu[/youtube]

It has some clear downsides, too, such as arbitrary immigration restrictions damaging the education and research sector's ability to attract international professors, students and collaboration.

Numerous method to obtain exemptions to this limit exist. Through sponsorship and grounds specifically set aside for those areas, limiting your overall immigration doesn't actually limit the number of smart, gifted foreign folk that will benefit the country.

That's not me arguing for increased immigration restrictions, I'm just pointing out generally professionals don't lose out to untrained immigrant applicants.

 Humble Guardsman wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:


The "genuine" "benefits" are to do with "sovereignty". This is a far woolier and more emotional area.

I can't comment on the economic side of Brexit with any authority, but the issue of sovereignty is nowhere near as nebulous and intangible as you seem to bee suggesting. It's a very real matter of legal rules and legal authority with ramifications just as important as the economy.

Jordan Peterson actually makes some pretty good points on this. The main aspects being:
1) The EU formed too quickly, hard to design as opposed to the natural formation of the States
2) Countries were included that simply weren't compatible on a lower level of governance (Greek corruption and widespread refusal to pay income tax being a big one)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jordan+peterson+eu[/youtube]

It has some clear downsides, too, such as arbitrary immigration restrictions damaging the education and research sector's ability to attract international professors, students and collaboration.

Numerous method to obtain exemptions to this limit exist. Through sponsorship and grounds specifically set aside for those areas, limiting your overall immigration doesn't actually limit the number of smart, gifted foreign folk that will benefit the country.

That's not me arguing for increased immigration restrictions, I'm just pointing out generally professionals don't lose out to untrained immigrant applicants.

Yeah...

Central Europe was fine...

Problems came when the Greeks where let in despite corruption, then the economically different eastern Europe.
It put tension on the system at points when it grew so quickly from some 7 to 27 nations.

Lastly the idea of Turkey joining. The battles caused by EU meddling in Ukraine.

There's lots of small issues biting at the EU even if its big enough to ignore them.

 Robin5t wrote:
Yeah, he's the only source as it stands, so take with a pinch of salt.

Whether it is a breach or not, the fact they think it is could be a big problem.

Requiring the suppprt of the DUP to prop up the government is a terrible idea. They're going to demand money, the whole of the UK will be hoping for money to replace that the EU once guaranteed, but Northern Ireland will be first in the queue with a big bowl. All the extremely conservative policies will be untouchable. Any progress on gay marriage is impossible, abortion will remain illegal with women covertly travelling to the UK for operations. Their ranks include creationists and climate deniers, so will obstruct legislation linked to these in industry and education. There are women in Northern Ireland facing prison for getting abortions. Think Westminster will even lift a finger for their cases now? The backward politics of Northern Ireland shame us, yet May rushes into a deal in a matter of hours desperate to claw onto power.

Funny how much criticism Tim Farron got over whether he thought gay sex was a sin. Shall we hold our breath to see if the right wing rags pursue this questioning of May's new chums?

What has been very interesting is the significant decline in print media in favour of social media. The print press has halved circulation to around 2 million, in total for all publications over the last 10 years, they're in serious trouble. I rarely see a paper at work these days, and I clearly remember there being loads before.
I wonder how long it'll be before Murdoch and the Barclay brothers catch on to this and start infiltrating online social media. I know it's a stretch, but a right wing owned "FaceChat" may look very different to what we see now. Obviously there's challenges, but Breitbart proves that right wing interests can adapt and prove successful. Luckily Guido Fawkes is still a pretty small, albeit toxic, presence.

I signed up to all sorts of political feeds online in the run up to the election, and the silence from the conservatives and UKIP was deafening. They were clearly ignoring the possibilities online, which raises some concerns about whether they truly understand, or are prepared to lead, a modern 21st century state.
People have criticised Corby for 1970s solutions for 21st century Britain, but he has embraced the younger generations by actually giving a gak, and ensuring his message is accessible in ways we all now use, without name calling. The right in the UK are the ones who seem to be living in the 70s when it comes to dealing with modern Britain.

I don't even give a monkeys now what the Sun, Express or Mail print, they've been relegated, the sub 40 yo generation are resistant to their propoganda, and have rejected it. That is one solid positive for me out of all this. An educated, politically aware, propoganda resistant youth that are ready and willing to actually contribute.

 Humble Guardsman wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:


The "genuine" "benefits" are to do with "sovereignty". This is a far woolier and more emotional area.

I can't comment on the economic side of Brexit with any authority, but the issue of sovereignty is nowhere near as nebulous and intangible as you seem to bee suggesting. It's a very real matter of legal rules and legal authority with ramifications just as important as the economy.

Jordan Peterson actually makes some pretty good points on this. The main aspects being:
1) The EU formed too quickly, hard to design as opposed to the natural formation of the States

I've never understood this one, it's not like Europe hasn't had it's share of nation states (formed from multiple, often highly somewhat contentious, constituent states) literally declared into existence in very short order...

I don't want to weigh in on any side, but I thought that the opportunity to make this was too good to pass up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tO57Hf--70

 Vaktathi wrote:

 Humble Guardsman wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:


The "genuine" "benefits" are to do with "sovereignty". This is a far woolier and more emotional area.

I can't comment on the economic side of Brexit with any authority, but the issue of sovereignty is nowhere near as nebulous and intangible as you seem to bee suggesting. It's a very real matter of legal rules and legal authority with ramifications just as important as the economy.

Jordan Peterson actually makes some pretty good points on this. The main aspects being:
1) The EU formed too quickly, hard to design as opposed to the natural formation of the States

I've never understood this one, it's not like Europe hasn't had it's share of nation states (formed from multiple, often highly somewhat contentious, constituent states) literally declared into existence in very short order...

The UK is a great example.

Like I said, these concepts are wooly and emotional.

Oh goody an Authoritarian Tory pm with a dislike of human rights teams up with the Irish Taliban(No Gays, No women, No Religon but ours and the sky fairy made the eath) this is going to end badly.

SeanDrake wrote:
Oh goody an Authoritarian Tory pm with a dislike of human rights teams up with the Irish Taliban(No Gays, No women, No Religon but ours and the sky fairy made the eath) this is going to end badly.

Pathetic comments. Gay marriage only became legal in England a short time ago. We do have civil partnerships. No women? The DUP party leader is a woman along with many others. One of the MPs at Westminster is a woman. They have the second highest number of female representatives in the NI assembly. No religion but ours? Have you even looked at the rest of the political parties in Northern Ireland? And as far as the sky fairy comments go, if your so full of hate you can't stand people of faith about you then that says more about you than them.
And before you run away with yourself and start nonsense about abortion, we do have abortion in NI, we just don't allow it on social grounds. It's perfectly legal and on health issues. That is a view commonly held across the world. One that is shared by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland. There could be a vote in the Northern Ireland assembly tomorrow on it and if the DUP didn't show up it would still fail. Alliance and greens are the only ones who want this to change.
On the supposed terrorist claims, which has everyone over here, bar SF supporters scratching their heads. Just so you know. None of the 10 MPs have ever been charged, convicted of or made statements in support of terrorist groups. However 3 of them have had family members killed by terrorists. One of them served in the British Army defending the citizens of Northern Ireland alongside soldiers from across the UK. And the female leader you don't acknowledge had had her father shot by terrorists as a child while she was feet away. Terrorists also placed a bomb on her school bus when she was a child. Nearly killing her and her classmates.
A little more study would go along way.

 Knockagh wrote:

SeanDrake wrote:
Oh goody an Authoritarian Tory pm with a dislike of human rights teams up with the Irish Taliban(No Gays, No women, No Religon but ours and the sky fairy made the eath) this is going to end badly.

Pathetic comments. Gay marriage only became legal in England a short time ago. We do have civil partnerships. No women? The DUP party leader is a woman along with many others. One of the MPs at Westminster is a woman. They have the second highest number of female representatives in the NI assembly. No religion but ours? Have you even looked at the rest of the political parties in Northern Ireland? And as far as the sky fairy comments go, if your so full of hate you can't stand people of faith about you then that says more about you than them.
And before you run away with yourself and start nonsense about abortion, we do have abortion in NI, we just don't allow it on social grounds. It's perfectly legal and on health issues. That is a view commonly held across the world. One that is shared by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland. There could be a vote in the Northern Ireland assembly tomorrow on it and if the DUP didn't show up it would still fail. Alliance and greens are the only ones who want this to change.
On the supposed terrorist claims, which has everyone over here, bar SF supporters scratching their heads. Just so you know. None of the 10 MPs have ever been charged, convicted of or made statements in support of terrorist groups. However 3 of them have had family members killed by terrorists. One of them served in the British Army defending the citizens of Northern Ireland alongside soldiers from across the UK. And the female leader you don't acknowledge had had her father shot by terrorists as a child while she was feet away. Terrorists also placed a bomb on her school bus when she was a child. Nearly killing her and her classmates.
A little more study would go along way.

Screw it, I'll weigh in.
I love the Ulstermen, they saved the UK from collapse before and they're saving it now.
And screw Corbyn, he's a buffoon, and screw Theresa 'Incompetent' May for making Corbyn look like a valid option.

 CREEEEEEEEED wrote:

 Knockagh wrote:

SeanDrake wrote:
Oh goody an Authoritarian Tory pm with a dislike of human rights teams up with the Irish Taliban(No Gays, No women, No Religon but ours and the sky fairy made the eath) this is going to end badly.

Pathetic comments. Gay marriage only became legal in England a short time ago. We do have civil partnerships. No women? The DUP party leader is a woman along with many others. One of the MPs at Westminster is a woman. They have the second highest number of female representatives in the NI assembly. No religion but ours? Have you even looked at the rest of the political parties in Northern Ireland? And as far as the sky fairy comments go, if your so full of hate you can't stand people of faith about you then that says more about you than them.
And before you run away with yourself and start nonsense about abortion, we do have abortion in NI, we just don't allow it on social grounds. It's perfectly legal and on health issues. That is a view commonly held across the world. One that is shared by all the main political parties in Northern Ireland. There could be a vote in the Northern Ireland assembly tomorrow on it and if the DUP didn't show up it would still fail. Alliance and greens are the only ones who want this to change.
On the supposed terrorist claims, which has everyone over here, bar SF supporters scratching their heads. Just so you know. None of the 10 MPs have ever been charged, convicted of or made statements in support of terrorist groups. However 3 of them have had family members killed by terrorists. One of them served in the British Army defending the citizens of Northern Ireland alongside soldiers from across the UK. And the female leader you don't acknowledge had had her father shot by terrorists as a child while she was feet away. Terrorists also placed a bomb on her school bus when she was a child. Nearly killing her and her classmates.
A little more study would go along way.

Screw it, I'll weigh in.
I love the Ulstermen, they saved the UK from collapse before and they're saving it now.
And screw Corbyn, he's a buffoon, and screw Theresa 'Incompetent' May for making Corbyn look like a valid option.

Blimey support, i wasn't expecting that! Thanks. I love you too!

 CREEEEEEEEED wrote:
...And screw Corbyn, he's a buffoon...

How insightful, I'd never considered that argument before, you've completely swung me on the debate.

 r_squared wrote:

 CREEEEEEEEED wrote:
...And screw Corbyn, he's a buffoon...

How insightful, I'd never considered that argument before, you've completely swung me on the debate.

I know, it's hardly the greatest political statement of the 21st century, I was just expressing my own views in as concise a manner as possible. You support whoever you want, I just think it of him is all.

 theCrowe wrote:
Well therein lies a big part of the issue. For better or worse Northern Ireland is part of the UK and our politics is your politics. The welfare and stability of our province is certainly your responsibility much as you wish it otherwise.

Absolutely true. The problem is that no mainland media outlet takes any interest in NI whatsoever so the only people who have any exposure to it in any real numbers are folks in the west of Scotland, and they only experience it through the prism of football sectarianism. There is literally a fraction of a percent of the mainland population who care at all what happens in Northern Ireland beyond 'it'd be nice if the peace process lasted'. There are even less who could name a Northern Irish politician other than Gerry Adams or Ian Paisley.

I've no idea how you fix that situation. One thing is for certain, a bright light being cast on the DUP will make it worse.