Wonder how a Con/Lib coalition will work. Or not. Hope that NI's public spending doesn't suffer too badly. Most interesting things in NI were Belfast East (goodbye, Robinson) and Fermanagh South Tyrone (Four votes. Four!)
I know that the Westminster government probably wishes NI would float off into the Atlantic, but Cameron made it blatantly clear last week -- and it wasn't as if he was polling so well that he could do without the Unionists, either.
Now I'm starting to wonder what PR will look like for NI (and the SNP and Plaid Cymru). They're in opposite position to the Lib Dems, support concentrated in a few seats and non-existent elsewhere.
I would once have said it'd work wonders for the SDLP and UUP, but to be honest, the SDLP would have to get their arses in gear and the UUP. Um. I'm not sure how the UUP can salvage themselves at this point, short of knifing Cameron.
Alliance, on the other hand, could well make hay, if Long can can make an impression in Parliament and they can carry through in the next Assembley election. And if someone would put Ian Parsely out of everyone's misery.
The UUP might as well shut up shop -- they don't offer anything the DUP doesn't any more, and why anyone thought getting into bed with the Conservatives was a good move...
I would be a bit worried about the more 'traditional' voters for SF and the DUP starting to feel disenfranchised and making their feelings known in the usual manner. Unless Stormont or the Parades Commission or something continues to provide suitable distraction and opportunities for throwing temper tantrums.
Personally, I feel anyone who votes Sinn Fein and then complains about disenfranchisement needs to grow a brain. And the hardliners are blowing stuf up already anyway, so nothing changes.
Well, the TUV got hammered, so goodness knows what happens there next.
But we're already surviving fairly well under PR as it is, I think as long as the Assembley don't decide to have another hissy (at which point I think whoever has the hissy gets their seats taken away and given to people who are not three rather than suspending everything) and throw the toys out of the pram, Parliamentary PR won't make much of a change. Fermanagh South Tyrone went to the fourth count and nobody died, it might work.
They might be pig-headed reactionary non-sitting MPs, but they're our pig-headed reactionary non-sitting MPs, tiocfaidh ar la! (can't be bothered with the fadas)
I think people were happy enough to vote TUV for the Assembly, but as far as Westminster was concerned it was a wasted vote. Although I don't think I remember so much unionist apathy as I've seen at home this time (Lagan Valley, not that Donaldson was going anywhere anyway).
Yes, Stormont politics would definitely be improved by introduction of the naughty step. Hung parliament? At least Westminster doesn't screech to a halt every time someone decides to stamp on their toys and go home.
Honestly, of the many, many reasons I loathe Tony Blair and all his works, his pandering to Sinn Fein and the DUP I loathe the most. I mean seriously, if his children behaved like that they'd've met themselves coming the other way, why did he let grown men away with it? Best thing would have been to smile, nod and carry on without them and see how fast they came running back. Ugh.
He was probably scared of the IRA starting to bomb London again. NI can tear itself apart, but we can't have bombs on the mainland. Although frankly blowing up Canary Wharf again could hardly have made more of a mess of the economy than they managed all their little selves.
See, before Omagh, yes. After that, Adams couldn't afford to risk even looking like they might and everyone knew it. London and Dublin had the best chance they ever had for forcing civil discourse on this place and they dropped the ball mightily.
This may be the only time you ever see me agree with Reg Empey...
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 07:27 pm (UTC)Now I'm starting to wonder what PR will look like for NI (and the SNP and Plaid Cymru). They're in opposite position to the Lib Dems, support concentrated in a few seats and non-existent elsewhere.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 07:34 pm (UTC)Alliance, on the other hand, could well make hay, if Long can can make an impression in Parliament and they can carry through in the next Assembley election. And if someone would put Ian Parsely out of everyone's misery.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 07:54 pm (UTC)I would be a bit worried about the more 'traditional' voters for SF and the DUP starting to feel disenfranchised and making their feelings known in the usual manner. Unless Stormont or the Parades Commission or something continues to provide suitable distraction and opportunities for throwing temper tantrums.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 08:05 pm (UTC)Well, the TUV got hammered, so goodness knows what happens there next.
But we're already surviving fairly well under PR as it is, I think as long as the Assembley don't decide to have another hissy (at which point I think whoever has the hissy gets their seats taken away and given to people who are not three rather than suspending everything) and throw the toys out of the pram, Parliamentary PR won't make much of a change. Fermanagh South Tyrone went to the fourth count and nobody died, it might work.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 10:05 pm (UTC)I think people were happy enough to vote TUV for the Assembly, but as far as Westminster was concerned it was a wasted vote. Although I don't think I remember so much unionist apathy as I've seen at home this time (Lagan Valley, not that Donaldson was going anywhere anyway).
Yes, Stormont politics would definitely be improved by introduction of the naughty step. Hung parliament? At least Westminster doesn't screech to a halt every time someone decides to stamp on their toys and go home.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 10:18 pm (UTC)Honestly, of the many, many reasons I loathe Tony Blair and all his works, his pandering to Sinn Fein and the DUP I loathe the most. I mean seriously, if his children behaved like that they'd've met themselves coming the other way, why did he let grown men away with it? Best thing would have been to smile, nod and carry on without them and see how fast they came running back. Ugh.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-08 11:32 pm (UTC)This may be the only time you ever see me agree with Reg Empey...