Don't ask me
Asked on Evening Extra whether there would be no SDLP response to Sinn Fein's decision to unilaterally withdraw Alec Maskey from the election in South Belfast, Alasdair McDonnell repled "I don't know, you need to ask the SDLP". Which party does the outgoing South Belfast MP belong to again?
Dr McDonnell hadn't had the chance to see it as he'd been out canvassing, but by the time he was on air Margaret Ritchie had already released a statement making it clear that Fearghal McKinney would not be pulling out in Fermanagh.
Then we have Jimmy Spratt's job offer to Paula Bradshaw that she could be South Belfast's new MLA if she would pull out of the race. Paula told Evening Extra she rebuffed the offer after referring it to Sir Reg Empey. Now if Jimmy does get elected and picks someone else to fill his Stormont seat does that make them the second choice for the job?
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~14~RS~)
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This is like spotting the careerists, so much for believing in issues!
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Seems like desperation on the part of JS, that he can't win the seat.
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Mark,
If the DUP were serious about unionist unity why don't they take Jimmy Spratt out of the contest and urge their voters in South Belfast to make the ultimate sacrifice and vote for Paula Bradshaw. In return Northern Ireland gets an extra unionist MP.
The cowboy!
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Mark,
I think you will find that the reason Margaret Ritchie has turned down this pact is because of her own self gain. If she supports Sinn Fein then in South Down she will lose the unionist vote so therefore Ritchie will lose out.
MARGARET RITCHIE IS IN IT FOR HERSELF AND TO HELL WITH THE PARTY.
Come on Ruane in South Down.
The cowboy!
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An astute move by Sinn Fein that will win them FST and South Down, it will even give Gerry Kelly a real shout in North Belfast. Poor Jimmy Spratt I'm sure he saw the ££££ signs in front of him only to be rebuffed. Ah well he can count his lucky stars if he gets re-elected in the next assembly elections as the DUP are heading for political obliviation along with the SDLP.
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THe dup have gone more than the extra mile to unite unionists and to win back this seat for unionism.
Reg says no. He will pay the price in S Antrim
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harryj,
Really? Why doesn't Willie McCrea be faithful with the electorate. Then we will see who wins South Antrim.
The cowboy!
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It is unfortunate that elections have come to this; parties carving up their electorate and serving them to other parties like some kind of currency. Whatever happened to letting people pick those who they would like to represent them for themselves.
Mark,
At the risk of sounding like a broken record myself, Susie has raised a series of questions to be put to the leader of the DUP. Considering your status as political editor, can you explain why no-one wants to put to Peter Robinson these questions? Do you confirm our fears that our reporters simply forget to ask these questions?
Regards, PieMan
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PieMan
Brown envelopes! Sure Mark's a DUP man, and a frequenter of Orange halls. I wonder does he attend band practice???
Regards, You
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ManOfPie,
Here here. It seems our journalists either have no guts or lazy. Which one Mr Devenport? If you want to set up a meeting I will put these questions to Robinson if Susie would agree. Or maybe Susie would like to do it.
The cowboy!
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Cowboy
Your fond of yourself; keep dreaming kid!!!
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rhinestonecowboy its not what you say its the way that you say it. Manofpie - Peters got immunity, is that not clear by now! Suzie was right last night on her question 8 - if you can remember. He's being blackmailed/forced into giving concessions, the DUP are clinging on with their fingernails to their reputations. It seems equality of culture is now the last mountain to climb.
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Well done to the SDLP, the only party to emerge from this grubby horse-trading with their principles intact.
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Add another voice Mark to the growing band of the electorate who wonder why BBC journalists (and other MSM) are reluctant to ask the Emperor about his clothing. £150.50 a year is expensive for a question filter.
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Nineteensixtyseven
Sinn Fein, you will agree, are the only party on this island, indeed these islands, whose electorate vote for them on policy and not exclusion. The SDLP cannot claim the same as its electorate vote to exclude others, just as the unionist electorate do the same!!!
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Odd on Mark to follow Mike and Fergal and leave TV for politics.....?? :)
He is allowed a private life too you know.
UTV also have political staff who support particular parties - without going into names.
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Whenever single Unionist candidates are decided on, they are asked about operating a sectarian headcount and nationalists speak of "squalid sectarian" pacts.
When Sinn Fein tries to "maximise nationalist representation" and effectively create a pan-nationalist front with the SDLP in South Belfast, BBC interviewers don't ask the same question.
Why? (e.g. Evening Extra last night).
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WOW watch what you say about the emperor with no clothes big brother is watching - is there a ban on talking about the DUP. Is freedom of speech limited now - Is this BBC China or Iran. Can two parties agreeing make a pan-nationalist front. Did the Orange Order threaten to advise their members not vote if the Unionist parties did not put forward Unionist Unity candidates in some constituencies. Is there a Pan DUP/Sinn Fein front up at Stormont
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The SDLP have remained true to their name S“Democratic”LP and have stood by their non - sectarian principles by refusing to get involved an orange and green dog fight, unlike the others.
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SF looking and helping the help of the SDLP haha.
Well said Framer.
Do any of the SF regulars ever have an opinion of their own that might be against the SF leadership? I think not. Just go a long with whatever Gerry says or does like blind sheep needing a shepherd.
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AntrimView2 Theres a difference when the Orange Order who's supposed to be a religious organisation and is fielding no candidates, threatens Unionist political parties to field a united unionist candidate in a constituency or they will inform their members and friends not to vote.
Sinn Fein and the SDLP didn't put up a united nationalist candidate nor did they tell or ask their voters who to vote for nor did any catholic religious organisation get involved in the process - hardly a Pan-Nationalist front nor sectarian.
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Jimmy C - Did you actually read my post?
I take it that the answer to my question from you then is "No. I am a sheep" :)
I thought SF pulled out to "maximise the nationalist vote"?
Mr Adams said: "This is a bold leadership initiative by Sinn Fein. It is about protecting and defending two nationalist seats."
I thought they just pulled out of South Belfast. Where is the other one?
Needing the SDLP to pull out for them in FST????
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Antrimview2
What is your view on orange men walking to the beat of loyalist drum beats from bands dedicated to terrorists???
Show us that you too have your own opinion!!!
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AntrimView2 Im hardly a sheep if I dont vote nor support Sinn Fein. We all know Sinn Fein pulled out of South Belfast because they had no chance of winning it and it was all about the FST seat which is special to them. That rubbish about defending two nationalist seats can be taken as just that - rubbish. Its about emotionally blackmailing the Nationalist voters of FST to remember the history of that seat and give their votes to Sinn Fein.
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Antrimview2
I your answer therefore "No. I too am a sheep" :)
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This is a cunning move by Sinn Fein. It will help to raise the heckles of a lot of Unionists and they will probably do what they always do and vote for the so called hardliners! That will help the TUV vote and it will be enough to make sure the Unionist family is split 3 ways, big time.
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I'm not sure how many times I have to state my opinions on that! Some people really are slow.
The facts are that the Orange Order is about the only organisation on the unionist side that pulls together people from all the reformed churches and political parties. There is a very wide range of views and its members including me do not agree with everything they do.
Is that why you republicans hate us so much? I think so.
Wooo Jimmy C - you surprise me again. Well done for having your own opinions. The other republican contributor would never say Gerry talks rubbish! GO on do it.....
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AntrimView2 It hardly matters who gets voted in to Westminister as we wont see the maggots untill the next time they are looking our votes. Our lives wont be any better and nothing will change here regarding the political situation. What about the paradox they have created over the parades issue - The Orange Order has a right to march wherever it wishes Vs Residents will have the right to live free from sectarian harassment while it will be illegal to block a lawful parade. Whilst there is only a few contentious routes, trying to apply this formula at Garvaghy Road is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. The Orange Order should be allowed to parade wherever they like but at the same time all forms of Irishness should also be accomadated and legalized. After all if we are going to accept each others cultures then it has to be accomadated equally.
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Antrimview2
If you say you do not like the practice of orange men walking behind bands dedicated to terrorists, why do you and your organisation continue to walk behind bands dedicated to terrorists???
You obviously, by your continued membership, feel it is OK for loyalism to laugh in the face of victims, on the Ormeau Road for example!!! Do you think this practice is acceptable and if not, why are you still an orange man???
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The Daily Mirror
Do republicans commemorate Ireland's heroes in loyalist/unionist/Protestant housing estates???
You can't flip this one, it is what it is, a sectarian organisation forcing loyalist traditions, through the threat of terrorism, upon Irish people who have had enough. It is time the orange order give up the ghost, you are NOT WANTED in Nationalist housing estates. You are NOT WANTED on roads that run alongside nationalist housing estates!!!
Nationalist people just want peace, why can't unionist/loyalist organisation just stop acting like spoilt children and commemorate within their own community???
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Here we go again. The same stupid rant. Only this time it has been updated to include "on roads that run alongside nationalist housing estates".
Just go on ahead and ignore what I said the last time this was brought up.
A small number of republicans made it their aim to attack the orange order.... what was that quote from Gerry? Did you ever find it. If I missed you posting it I apologise. I don't read everything on here.
Many nationalist have no problem with the parades. So why don't you stop trying to impose your own wishes on the rest of your community?
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Antrimview2
And there you go again, failing to address the whole issue; the elephant in the room: the fact that the orange order and loyalist terrorist organisations are inextricably linked, as they have always been. To deny again and again and again that this is the case, to continually avoid this issue, shows that you are a sheep. Among your flock, there are wolves; wolves in sheep's clothing! Your Shepard has, for generations, turned a blind eye to this dual membership!!!
Time for the orange order to stop demanding, while at the same time threatening the use of terrorism, that they should be allowed to commemorate sectarian causes, in areas where the people DO NOT WANT THEM!!!
Loyalist terrorist organisation, their bands, their brothers the orange order, or their Blue Bag Brigades following them, are NOT WANTED in nationalist areas. Commemorate your culture in areas where people accept your organisation - loyalist housing estates or the Shankil road!!!
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A little bit of realism DisgustedinDERRY you cannot tar every member of the Orange Order with the one brush, there are many who regard themselves as Christians who have no interest in politics. There is undoubtedly an extreme element in the Orange Order who use it for political purposes, I have no issues with any Christian who wishes to march with his/her fellow Christians to church, if there's someone with an accordion or two in front playing hymns then so whats the problem with that. You support Sinn Fein, are you saying that the leadership are saying what you say when they are talking to the Orange Order - For they are talking. Who do you think agreed the parades blueprint that is now in the public domain. Equality of culture my friend goes both ways.
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Jimmy Cricket
"Among your flock, there are wolves; wolves in sheep's clothing"
That would not my friend, be tarring all orange men with the one brush. I do know that within the orange order, there are those who wish the order to change. It is plain to see its leadership are not among those members. As I said, there are wolves. They are allowed to steer the organisation, an organisation whose survival depends on confrontation. That seems to be the only publicity they crave!!!
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