Politics:Andy Burnham’s grassroots opposition
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Labour needs to reconnect with its members and can reach out to Northern Ireland by running for election here, according to Andy Burnham. Peter Cheney talks to the leadership candidate. “I’m standing to be leader of the Labour Party because I fear Labour has become dangerously disconnected from ordinary working people,” Andy Burnham told journalists as he accepted his nomination from Northern Ireland members. While proud of its achievements in government, he saw a need to “stand on the side of ordinary people” in a time of spending cuts. Cuts suggested by the coalition were...[full story]
Politics:Constituency work
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Three MLAs talk to agendaNi about the ‘bread and butter’ issues making up their constituency work. While Stormont is Northern Ireland’s formal political arena, constituency offices are very much the front-line for MLAs where the people they represent get in touch with their problems and questions. Barry McElduff (West Tyrone), David McClarty (East Londonderry) and Alasdair McDonnell (South Belfast) shared some of their thoughts on what this part of their job involves. All three agree on the importance of having good staff, both welcoming and competent. “I am fortunate to have...[full story]
Politics:Cutting constituencies
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Peter Cheney weighs up the pros, cons and numbers in the drive for fewer seats. A smaller Assembly is on the way due to plans for fewer constituencies. Political reasons in Britain are driving the change, to take effect after the next general election. MLAs and MPs share the same areas. Conservatives have long complained that many Labour seats are too small and easily won. Some of the smallest seats, by electorate, are clustered in the Welsh valleys, inner city London and Merseyside. These were set up during the Industrial Revolution to represent growing cities and mining areas, but their...[full story]
Politics:Vicky Ford on Europe’s value
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010A banker turned politician, Omagh-born MEP Vicky Ford shares her recollections of Northern Ireland and explains the need to control Europe’s cost. Diving under a school desk because of a bombing was an exception to Vicky Ford’s “extremely happy” childhood in Omagh. The Eastern England MEP now hopes the province can look forward to a brighter future and become part of the political mainstream. Born Vicky Pollock in the County Tyrone town in 1967, both of her parents were English doctors. “My father fell in love with Northern Ireland when he was a teenager and that’s how we...[full story]
Politics:Scotland’s powers – the way ahead
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Peter Cheney reviews the forthcoming changes to devolution in Scotland and the potential consequences for Northern Ireland’s system of government and finances. The eventual end to the Barnett formula and a strong precedent for tax-raising powers will be the main results of the Coalition Government’s plans to give Scotland more autonomy. A think tank on Scottish devolution, the Calman Commission, will see its recommendations put into law over the next year. In future, Northern Ireland would receive grant funding from Westminster only because of its needs, which are yet to be assessed....[full story]
Politics:Risks but no revival – Reg Empey’s leadership
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Sir Reg Empey’s five years as UUP leader in review. “A mammoth task” admittedly awaited Reg Empey on 25 June 2005 as he took on the UUP leadership but, he continued, “we have faced great adversity before and we will meet the challenge.” Early days saw him trying to stabilize the party after its defeat. Relative political isolation worked to its advantage as he re- organised outdated structures and promoted younger members. However, a voting pact with the PUP in 2006 proved unpopular with Sylvia Hermon openly opposing the plan. Empey had wanted to bring loyalists into the mainstream...[full story]
North/South:Fianna Fáil moves north
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Following the opening of a Fianna Fáil office in Northern Ireland, Meadhbh Monahan takes stock of the party’s presence in the province. Since Fianna Fáil launched in the province in 2009 it has formed forums in Armagh, south Down, and Fermanagh, all border areas with a majority of nationalist voters. Ogra Fianna Fáil has also established cumanns (associations) in Queen’s University and the University of Ulster. At the 2009 ard fheis, Mark Hughes from Armagh was voted into the ard comhairle, a council of 20 that is notoriously hard to get elected onto, particularly if you reside...[full story]
Meet the media:Henry McDonald
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Ireland correspondent for the Guardian and Observer newspapers, Belfast man Henry McDonald began his career in the Irish News. He has written extensively on the Troubles, including books on paramilitary groups. In his 13 years with the Guardian he has looked at a variety of local topics of interest to a UK-wide audience. How did you get started in journalism and how did you make your way to being Ireland correspondent for the Guardian and Observer? I began while a student at Queen’s University working on ‘The Gown’ newspaper. However, I was also working on a BBC youth training...[full story]
Politics:Floor-crossing
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Usually, a politician will not resign and force a by-election if they cross the floor or become an independent. In light of this, Meadhbh Monahan asks elected representatives about their duty to their constituents. The question of whether a politician should resign invariably arises if they leave the party in whose name they were elected. Winston Churchill was the most famous parliamentarian to cross the floor, and he did it twice, from the Conservatives to the Liberals in 1904 and back again in the 1920s. More recent UK defectors include former Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward...[full story]
Politics:2010/2011 Conference diary
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010As the leaves start to fall, the political temperature is set to rise this month as faithful delegates, exhibitors and journalists start to make their way to parties’ annual get-togethers. This year’s Trades Union Congress will also be a focal point for opposition to impending spending cuts. The TUC covers Great Britain but also attracts observers from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, north and south. Who will lead the UUP and what the future holds for the PUP are two key questions hovering over this autumn’s season. The UUP’s new leader will be elected at Belfast’s Waterfront...[full story]
