Open Unionism has requested blog posts from supporters of each of the candidates running for the leadership of the Ulster Unionists. The first is from Mike Nesbitt who outlines his view as to why Tom Elliott should be the next leader of the UUP. By Mike Nesbitt I am quite taken with a story attributed …
Category Archive: Guest blogger
Jul
13
How do we move beyond defence of the Union, to advancing and deepening it?
In his a guest post for Open Unionism, The Dissenter suggests that the vexed issue of a possible Sinn Fein First Minister is short-termist – the bigger strategic problem for Unionism lies in the failure of Sir Reg Empey to stabilise and provide purpose to the UUP and the DUP’s failure to dismiss the TUV …
Dec
30
The big task that’s facing the next UK government…
[picapp align="center" wrap="false" link="term=air+raid+shelter&iid=4002677" src="f/9/1/d/Air_Raid_Chimp_b136.jpg?adImageId=8725616&imageId=4002677" width="380" height="480" /] By St Etienne Just a quick(ish!) note to highlight an important contribution from respected journalist & historian Max Hastings on just how big a task the next government will have in the UK. Food for thought, and locally is indicative why we need a strong showing not …
Dec
21
Why a NI Fianna Fail is a threat to cohesion…
[picapp align="center" wrap="false" link="term=fianna+fail&iid=5576198" src="5/1/4/6/Fianna_Fail_8971.jpg?adImageId=8508149&imageId=5576198" width="500" height="343" /] By St Etienne Two years ago Fianna Fail registered as a political party with the UK Electoral Commission. While nothing more than a fringe entity for the time being, I feel a wider debate is needed on the impact of adding this particular brand of nationalism to …
Oct
24
GUEST BLOG 1: Bring it on Labour, says Sir Reg
[picapp src="e/9/f/a/The_Labour_Party_7888.jpg?adImageId=6479229&imageId=6660755" width="380" height="271" /] By Sam McBride News Letter political correspondent Ahead of the Ulster Unionist Party conference, I interviewed UUP leader Sir Reg Empey about the state of the party, his own future and the Tory alliance. But, as ever with these things, only so much could get onto the allocated page in …
Sep
19
This week in the Assembly: Allan Bresland and the gynae monologues…
By Assembly sketchwriters With the Northern Ireland Assembly back in session, we could all be forgiven for expecting a new dispensation, a break from the past and a better government. The First Minister was adamant that he would forge a middle path in the new term. Even the Speaker called for a more parliamentarian-like display …
Top 25 NI Blogs (No. 21)
Top 20 NI blogs (No. 6)
Twitter: @openunionism
- @buachailldana1 *Minority* language funding is writing your own amt on invoice, all across EU. Ulster Scots is merely joining gravy train.
- Protestant pupils don’t speak Ullans : http://t.co/xscZNDEo
- @Askinner2011 Cheers for the link, Henry kept uncharacteristically quiet on that one;)
- My co-editor on Open Unionism tells it like it is;) : "Yes to the UK" http://t.co/qNEul4fr via @studentjournals
- OK, numbers are relatively small but still- "More Irish enlisting in British army even as losses in Afghanistan grow": http://t.co/oz60Yd1Q
- That didn't last long: http://t.co/HCcb9afS: http://t.co/OyajwtSp
- The Open Unionism Daily is out! http://t.co/u3fmvYNB ▸ Top stories today via @sallynicoll @markdevenport @news_letter @pmynes @ni_crc
- Scottish iseparation: "Country would lose warship contracts" -: http://t.co/ll8wvEEe
- @siema_skip "you'd be British all you like". Oh, thank you. With regards your question-yes, mistakes were made. And?
- @siema_skip You deny my and others born in N.Ireland's right to Britishness? What gives you that right to dictate my national identity?