Jan
10
After my mini-rant last month on what I see as a fundamentally broken approach to UK modus operandi it seems logical to follow up on how this wrong should be righted. In fact Cameron has quite admirably sought to bring this ‘limbo’ to a decisive end with his legally binding independence vote. It’s a tactic …
Dec
22
Since David Cameron became Conservative leader in 2005, he’s done a lot of backtracking. Yet one project he’s stuck with through thick and thin: breaking the Conservatives into Northern Irish politics. From employing full-time party staff to negotiating a fragile alliance with the Ulster Unionists, the party has put a lot of work into a …
Oct
04
“This party has to stick together or it is nothing!” Murdo Fraser MSP, being ironic. To my delighted surprise, the hustings was a really good event. Candidates had to outline their vision in short speeches, then take questions, then summate at the end. The candidates drew lots on the speaking order, and Murdo Fraser went first. This …
Sep
28
Since time immemorial, the end of June/ beginning of July has been a tense and occasionally violent time in Ulster; the start of the “Orange Calendar”, the start of the “Opposition to the Orange Calendar”. This year, however, the trouble has been the worst seen for quite a few years with parts of east Antrim, …
Sep
18
Murdo Fraser has launched his leadership bid for the Scottish Conservatives by suggesting they disband. The idea is not, as pointed out on ConHome and elsewhere, without precedent. Before 1965 the Unionist Party represented the Conservatives north of the border and were, on national issues, essentially indistinguishable. Nor is the idea without international precedent. The …
Apr
12
I recently caught up with Jeff Dudgeon to discuss his candidacy for the Irish Seanad.
Clickthrough for embedded video in the post…
Feb
26
Here’s a great post on digital engagement from Helpful Technology. Taking Obama’s State of the Union address as a case study, this provides neat, succinct and comprehensive advice. Yes, there is a huge White House team available to deliver all of this stuff. But Helpful Technology notes that the key to success is not volume, …
Feb
23
Interesting post from The Dissenter on the nature of liberalism in Northern Ireland politics.
The Dissenter says that ‘true champions of liberalism in Northern Ireland are required’.
Agreed. And progress is being made – but will it survive the Assembly campaign?
Dec
06
Party manifestos will be published over the next few months. These documents are always difficult to present and to encourage readership beyond the committed politico. Microsites are being adopted by large organisations when it comes to their annual reports. This moves an often turgid document away from being a printed record developed out of legal …
Nov
23
Cross posted on Three Thousand Versts. By Owen Polley. As promised, some reaction to the UUP Assembly candidates list, revealed yesterday. Like O’Neill, the first name which took my eye was Reg Empey, whose impending elevation to the Conservative benches at the House of Lords has not prevented his selection for East Belfast. On ‘Unionist …
Twitter: @openunionism