Collapse of talks in Northern Ireland

[Nearly Sane]

Deeply depressing



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-43064009

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Deeply depressing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-43064009

Agreed. But if Norn Iron voters want to vote for extreme parties rather than for moderate parties, that is their business.

[Nearly Sane]

I suppose this is the Ash Wednesday disagreement

[Humph Warden Bennett]

I suppose this is the Ash Wednesday disagreement

A good way of putting it.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

I do not know much about the NI Assembly, can somebody advise me, is it constitutionally possible for UUP, SDLP, Alliance, & minor parties to form a minority administration?

[Nearly Sane]

The while idea of the Irish language as an issue for a collapse of these talks seems like an indulgent crash driven into the wall with Sinn Fein and the DUP jointly steering. Owen Smith indulgently saying it is just the FUP and the Tories fault for screwing up the actions of Tony Blair and the Labour Party is playing simplistic politics in the same way as everyone else here. It makes me miss Blair and Major and that isn't something I have ever said.

[Nearly Sane]

I do not know much about the NI Assembly, can somebody advise me, is it constitutionally possible for UUP, SDLP, Alliance, & minor parties to form a minority administration?

My understanding is you would need DUP - Sinn Fein in some form and that the entirety of the minority partners wouldn't have enough to form more than a large minibus.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

The while idea of the Irish language as an issue for a collapse of these talks seems like an indulgent crash driven into the wall with Sinn Fein and the DUP jointly steering. Owen Smith indulgently saying it is just the FUP and the Tories fault for screwing up the actions of Tony Blair and the Labour Party is playing simplistic politics in the same way as everyone else here. It makes me miss Blair and Major and that isn't something I have ever said.

I am reminded of when I worked in the Royal Courts of Justice in the early eighties. I and others, representing various trades unions, spent more than two years persuading the South Eastern Circuit Office to establish a "Whitley" Committee for the RCJ,  on the reasoning that nearly 1 000 people worked there & it needed to be considered separately from the rest of the South Eastern Circuit. When management agreed to establish the same, I & others who had worked for the same were defeated in the Trade Union Side elections by those who claimed to be "Broad Left".

What was the first action of the "Broad Left"? They walked out of the inaugural meeting with the RCJ Administrator & the Chief Clerks. So the committee collapsed. It was set up for the benefit of the staff, not the bosses. Wankers.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

My understanding is you would need DUP - Sinn Fein in some form and that the entirety of the minority partners wouldn't have enough to form more than a large minibus.

FWIW I have taken a look at Wiki & the minor parties combined have 35 seats, out of a total of 90. That means 39 per cent of the Assembly, assuming that they all agreed, which is unlikely.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

FWIW I have taken a look at Wiki & the minor parties combined have 35 seats, out of a total of 90. That means 39 per cent of the Assembly, assuming that they all agreed, which is unlikely.

OK just for Jeremy, the exact figure is 38.888888888888888888888 recurring.

[Nearly Sane]

FWIW I have taken a look at Wiki & the minor parties combined have 35 seats, out of a total of 90. That means 39 per cent of the Assembly, assuming that they all agreed, which is unlikely.

Worse, I think it needs a majority of those who identify themselves as Unionist Republican so the 35 are not sufficient to form a govt.

[Anchorman]

I do not know much about the NI Assembly, can somebody advise me, is it constitutionally possible for UUP, SDLP, Alliance, & minor parties to form a minority administration?

The NI Assembly was created as a power sharing, semi-democratic body.
To allow a one party or majority government would have bee to destablilise the peace process. The Assembly waqs set up in such a way that the largest two parties would form the government, with other parties playing minor roles.
Unfortunately, Sinn Fein has eclipsed SDLP, and the DUP has all but ended the UUP. Other parties simply are not large enough to field enough candidates.

[Rhiannon]

The while idea of the Irish language as an issue for a collapse of these talks seems like an indulgent crash driven into the wall with Sinn Fein and the DUP jointly steering. Owen Smith indulgently saying it is just the FUP and the Tories fault for screwing up the actions of Tony Blair and the Labour Party is playing simplistic politics in the same way as everyone else here. It makes me miss Blair and Major and that isn't something I have ever said.

Yes, agree, Major looks almost statesmanlike compared to what we have now.

[Anchorman]

Yes, agree, Major looks almost statesmanlike compared to what we have now.

 



Major should be given far more credit for his efforts to end the troubles. He was very much a statesman....as was Blair, and the redoubtable Mo Mowlan.
The NI Assembly isn't perfect by any means, but at least ti locked in the major opponents into working together, rather than the unthinkable alternative.
Splinter groups, however, exist on both sides. At the moment, SF and the DUP (in the guise of the UDA) have a control of sorts over them. If wesminster has to take back full control for an extended term, I wonder just how tight that control will remain.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

The NI Assembly was created as a power sharing, semi-democratic body.
To allow a one party or majority government would have bee to destablilise the peace process. The Assembly waqs set up in such a way that the largest two parties would form the government, with other parties playing minor roles.
Unfortunately, Sinn Fein has eclipsed SDLP, and the DUP has all but ended the UUP. Other parties simply are not large enough to field enough candidates.

Thank you for that explanation.