A Yellow Card and the Split in the DUP
During yesterday's manifesto launch the SDLP tried to work in a Champions League metaphor by talking about showing a "Yellow card" to Sinn Fein and the DUP (why not a red one?) The DUP launched their manifesto in an activity centre on the Belvoir estate in South Belfast today and footballing metaphors were in short supply, perhaps because this would only have pointed up the very obvious split in the party between Chelsea fan Peter Robinson and Everton fan Nigel Dodds.
Diane Dodds has asked her husband if she can count on him to canvass on Saturday afternoon, but he is sounding distinctly non-committal. Where can you canvass whilst keeping one eye on the TV?
Predictably the DUP launch was dominated by talk of "topping the poll", even though each MEP we elect will have an equal vote. Still, Diane Dodds insists it will be a "disaster" if Sinn Fein comes first and two nationalists are elected.
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Mark
DUP DEFINITELY TOP EXPENSES CLAIMS POLL
Following the recent revelations about the Robinson's expenses claims for food and second-home allowances and today's disclosures about Gregory Campbell's second-home expenses claims, it seems to me that the DUP are only interested in topping the poll for milking the various parliamentary expenses systems.
At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!
Here's a new signature tune for the DUP.
Susie
Carryduff
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Mark,
Why do the SDLP still insist they can top the poll? According to the last couple of elections the SDLP need to find 70,000 votes. Are the SDLP and Sinn Fein asking people to transfer their 2nd preference vote to the other party?
Why is it the DUP say it would be such a disaster if Sinn Fein top the poll? The DUP play happy families and second best to Sinn Fein every day in Stormont? The DUP have allowed Sinn Fein to wreck the education system, hold up the Executive for 150 days and concede Policing and Justice.
It is time Diane Dodds and the DUP wised up.
Stormontspy
PS The DUP should start answering the questions over Gregory Campbell and his expenses. It has been revealed that Gregory made second home claims of more than £77,000 over four years, claimed £11,500 in hotel bills between 2005 and 2006 before moving into a flat in London and spent £4,675 off tax payers money on furniture and appliances including TVs and a DVD player.
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What is this "disaster" of two nationalist MEPs? I am so sick of hearing that. There have been many unionist MEPs over the years, there are currently 2 unionists and 1 nationalist MEPs. So what if next time round it were to be 1 unionist and 2 nationalists? Is that really such problem? Will our fates be irrevocably changed? Will it be such a "disaster"? I think not. Just yet more tribal rubbish from the DUP. Grow up.
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Yawn, another tribal head-count begins, why not save some taxpayers money and pick 3 names out of a hat, they all have no real polices apart from stopping the other side in, but at least some them are now behaving like real MPs and lining their pockets! Must be normalization at last.
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BIG MISTAKE!
I knew I made a mistake by watching Diane Dodds on 'Hearts and Minds' tonight. A dreadful performance and I've previously said enough on that point. I have to admit that Jim Allister was more convincing.
Perhaps the reason why Gregory Campbell purchased the televisions (with taxpayer's money) was so that he could watch Diane twice!
And Mark, you do look nice in beige!
Pandora
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I think one of the interesting aspects of this election will be when we see how transfers are allocated. Have any of the parties clearly stated who their supporters should give second and lower preferences to? I asked an SDLP canvasser who answered De Brún, while SF were non commital. UUP suggested any unionist candidate. I'm still waiting to meet a DUP canvasser, but on Hearts, Diane "I've started so no matter how many times you interrupt Noel I will finish this sentance" Dodds also was non commital.
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#2 That's part of the routine they have to go through, Magennis (and Nicholson) can hardly come out and say "I'm going to be desperate to get enough transfers to scrape over the line," as true as that may be!!
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Can Diane explain to me why the DUP not topping the poll would be so bad?
In Europe its not like they have a lot of influence anyway!
Unless I missed something 1st, 2nd and 3rd still only get one seat each.
Not extra price for most first preference.
A lot of Unionists are scunnered with this constant type of talk now, especially when the DUP have given SF equal power locally.
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#8 I suppose it's of huge symbolic importance if a Republican candidate was to receive the most votes in an NI wide election. It wouldn't alter the actual result or the constitutional position but it would be a psychological blow to Unionism.
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#9
It is of no importance to most unionists. What the elected MEPs will do in Europe is of importance. Diane was useless and had both of us groaning at the TV at how awful she was - she has nothing to say except "smash SF; top the poll". We don't care Diane. If there were 3 SF MEPs from NI it wouldn't make a button of difference to the union. Get a life Diane!
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Stormontspy, "Why do the SDLP still insist they can top the poll?"
What? Who said that? The only ones harping on about topping the poll are the DUP because they have nothing else to say on Europe.
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Alban said on Sunday he was going to "win" the election
I was waiting on him laughing but it didnt happen
Put it like this. If the SDLP "win" this election then Labour will win the next general election
ie...NEVER going to happen
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But how do you define "win?" Is it topping the poll of which he has no chance or is it getting elected of which he does have a reasonable chance.
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1967,
Alban Maginnis said on Sunday's Politics Show that not only where the SDLP going to win a seat they were going to top the poll. Then on another station mid week Alban said that he was going to win this election. When the presenter said to him that he had a lot of votes to make up he said that the SDLP are going to mobilise their vote.
What a deluded person. Alban if you are reading this give up. You cant win. Youre not going to be on the EU gravy train.
Stormontspy
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re #5 Gregory's TV's
Why the need for more than 1.... wonder if it was needed for his constituency office in Coleraine... the one that was bought in his wife's name to keep within the Stormont expenses regime...but the Westminster Constituency office nonetheless!!!
No mention of Gregory claiming for food whilst in London...maybe survived on the crumbs from his leaders table!
Re Diane Dodds: her media skills are obviously woeful,as evidenced by her last 2 tv appearances but worse she seems to lack even the most basic of grasps as to what the role of an MEP is.
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Re #14 Stormontspy:
I think it highly likely that the SDLP know they aren't going to have the most votes in the poles. I do not see this ever being admitted in public though. If a politician were to say they wouldn't win or were to be seen as doubtful then that could be seen as a sign of weakness. I think of their #1 spot claim as just bluster, but it is something that all the MEP candidates are doing, they all claim they will come in first. At least the SDLP have just been saying it in passing and following it up with ideas and policies, instead of the DUP Diane Dodds' woeful "We'll win #1, we'll smash Sinn Fein" mantra which seems to be the entirely of her electioneering platform.
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@ 14
We'll see next week, Stormontspy. Of course he's going to say he will do well, it's hard politik to say, "Well, Jim, we're going to do really badly." With Allister running rings round Diane "Smash Sinn Féin" Dodds and Jim Nicholson caught up in Hermongate, it's very possible the SDLP will win a seat.
PS. It's been a while since you mentioned Margaret Ritchie. Maybe you can relight your obsession if the SDLP lose next week and blame it all on her.
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1967,
We will see next week who is elected and who isn't. Alban is hardly going to say I am not going to be elected but he doesn't have to be so arrogant and bullish. I agree that Allister is running round Diane "one sentence" Dodds.
Stormontspy
PS The only obsession I have is to get failed Politicians removed. If Margaret Ritchie falls into that bracket (your choice) then I will criticise and hope they take themselves off.
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Stormontspy,
I think they call it electioneering and it's hardly as bullish as the "top the poll" candidates.
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