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Quote from: SydneyRover on April 12, 2021, 10:38:12 pmNeutrals don't appear to have to commit just ask questions, but don't take my word for it look at the lack of answers ...... any time ......... how does one vote neutral? Sydney – strange as it may seem I actually did in a real and positive selective sense vote ‘neutral’ in the last General Election! It is of course in the tangled web of Northern Ireland politics that I cast my vote, and maybe that gives me a chance to give a brief overview given the recent violence here.All political parties here are expected to make clear their stance on the biggest issue of all, namely Unionism (i.e wishing to remain part of the UK or Nationalism/Republicanism (wishing to become part of the Republic of Ireland). Parties may take a ‘neutral’ stance. On the Unionist Side there are the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and UUP (Ulster Unionist Party) and smaller parties like the PUP (Progressive Unionist Party) and TUV (Traditional Unionist Voice). On the Republican side are Sinn Fein and SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party). The two main parties that are ‘neutral’ are the Alliance Party and the Greens. The Labour Party does not field candidates in NI, and the Conservatives do very little and with no real prospect of an MP over here.I decided as a non-indigenous recent arrival here, that for the time at least I would vote for a ‘neutral’ party (Alliance as they are the largest neutral party).When the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed in 1998 it was as a result if the so called Hume-Adams talks, although great credit must also go to David Trimble as well. The great John Hume was the leader of the SDLP, the moderate republican party who always condemn all violence out of hand. Sinn Fein on the other hand are of course highly tied to the republican paramilitaries. David Trimble was the leader of the moderate UUP, the Unionist moderates who also condemn all violence while the DUP have links to the Unionist paramilitaries. In the initial post GFA NI Assembly in Stormont it was the moderate UUP and SDLP who were by far the largest parties. However with the need to keep paramilitaries within the process this has shifted over time, and the centre moderates have been marginalised by the NI voters with power shifting to Sinn Fein and DUP. The political centre is now a very sparsely populated place here in NI, with the Alliance Party now having an increased role compared with 1998. IMHO this is a symptom of the volatility here, and explains (but not justifies) the strong reactions.Also IMHO it was a colossal blunder by the DUP to back Brexit, presumably preferring to be allied with the Conservative party, rather than thinking through the obvious and all too clear consequences.
Neutrals don't appear to have to commit just ask questions, but don't take my word for it look at the lack of answers ...... any time ......... how does one vote neutral?
I don’t think it was a blunder by the DUP, I thunk it was a calculated act, to create division, I also think Arlene Foster is a nasty piece of work
DUExcellent post.My take on the last paragraph: The DUP is currently run by some very small-minded people. Ian Paisley, for all his faults, saw the bigger picture. I'm not sure Foster sees anything beyond immediate sectarian advantage. I think they supported Brexit because they thought it would weaken ties with Ireland and strengthen ties with GB. That they could misread the situation so very badly in both ways is an indication of what political pygmies they are.
Yep, it's great that the government chose not to participate in the joint EU vaccine purchasing scheme earlier this year, saying that it could secure doses more quickly itself. Labour’s policy and Keir Starmer's own personal choice was to participate in the joint EU vaccine purchasing scheme, claiming that Brexit will actually make the rollout of the UK’s vaccination programme more difficult. Great decision by the government.
Also a possibility Filo, but what did she and her party expect to gain?
Quote from: Dutch Uncle on April 13, 2021, 01:09:53 pmAlso a possibility Filo, but what did she and her party expect to gain?She represents her base and it would have been extremly difficult, if not impossible for her to do otherwise, or she would have been out - and replaced with someone even more hardline. Don't forget the DUP were always against the GFA too.There is also the not inconsiderable matter of £1.2 billion she gained from Theresa May. If only that had been spent making life better for people on the Shankhill Estates etc.
Quote from: Dutch Uncle on April 13, 2021, 12:36:34 pmQuote from: SydneyRover on April 12, 2021, 10:38:12 pmNeutrals don't appear to have to commit just ask questions, but don't take my word for it look at the lack of answers ...... any time ......... how does one vote neutral? Sydney – strange as it may seem I actually did in a real and positive selective sense vote ‘neutral’ in the last General Election! It is of course in the tangled web of Northern Ireland politics that I cast my vote, and maybe that gives me a chance to give a brief overview given the recent violence here.All political parties here are expected to make clear their stance on the biggest issue of all, namely Unionism (i.e wishing to remain part of the UK or Nationalism/Republicanism (wishing to become part of the Republic of Ireland). Parties may take a ‘neutral’ stance. On the Unionist Side there are the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and UUP (Ulster Unionist Party) and smaller parties like the PUP (Progressive Unionist Party) and TUV (Traditional Unionist Voice). On the Republican side are Sinn Fein and SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party). The two main parties that are ‘neutral’ are the Alliance Party and the Greens. The Labour Party does not field candidates in NI, and the Conservatives do very little and with no real prospect of an MP over here.I decided as a non-indigenous recent arrival here, that for the time at least I would vote for a ‘neutral’ party (Alliance as they are the largest neutral party).When the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed in 1998 it was as a result if the so called Hume-Adams talks, although great credit must also go to David Trimble as well. The great John Hume was the leader of the SDLP, the moderate republican party who always condemn all violence out of hand. Sinn Fein on the other hand are of course highly tied to the republican paramilitaries. David Trimble was the leader of the moderate UUP, the Unionist moderates who also condemn all violence while the DUP have links to the Unionist paramilitaries. In the initial post GFA NI Assembly in Stormont it was the moderate UUP and SDLP who were by far the largest parties. However with the need to keep paramilitaries within the process this has shifted over time, and the centre moderates have been marginalised by the NI voters with power shifting to Sinn Fein and DUP. The political centre is now a very sparsely populated place here in NI, with the Alliance Party now having an increased role compared with 1998. IMHO this is a symptom of the volatility here, and explains (but not justifies) the strong reactions.Also IMHO it was a colossal blunder by the DUP to back Brexit, presumably preferring to be allied with the Conservative party, rather than thinking through the obvious and all too clear consequences.I don’t think it was a blunder by the DUP, I thunk it was a calculated act, to create division, I also think Arlene Foster is a nasty piece of work
As far as i'm aware she's never blown anyone up though, unlike...
Dutch,If religious differences in Ireland were to disappear tomorrow do you think much would change....? To the layman (me) it seems that much of the last 5 or 6 decades of troubles have largely been a direct result of organised gangland criminal activity on both sides - including drugs trafficking, tax and excise fraud (on cigs/fuel/alcohol), organised immigration crime. etc. I've two good mates who did numerous tours out there in the 90's and always tell me illegal gangland activity was rife back then, and suggest it is probably the same now..... Is religion just a cover for what is essentially mafia level activities?
Quote from: Filo on April 13, 2021, 01:05:27 pmQuote from: Dutch Uncle on April 13, 2021, 12:36:34 pmQuote from: SydneyRover on April 12, 2021, 10:38:12 pmNeutrals don't appear to have to commit just ask questions, but don't take my word for it look at the lack of answers ...... any time ......... how does one vote neutral? Sydney – strange as it may seem I actually did in a real and positive selective sense vote ‘neutral’ in the last General Election! It is of course in the tangled web of Northern Ireland politics that I cast my vote, and maybe that gives me a chance to give a brief overview given the recent violence here.All political parties here are expected to make clear their stance on the biggest issue of all, namely Unionism (i.e wishing to remain part of the UK or Nationalism/Republicanism (wishing to become part of the Republic of Ireland). Parties may take a ‘neutral’ stance. On the Unionist Side there are the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and UUP (Ulster Unionist Party) and smaller parties like the PUP (Progressive Unionist Party) and TUV (Traditional Unionist Voice). On the Republican side are Sinn Fein and SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party). The two main parties that are ‘neutral’ are the Alliance Party and the Greens. The Labour Party does not field candidates in NI, and the Conservatives do very little and with no real prospect of an MP over here.I decided as a non-indigenous recent arrival here, that for the time at least I would vote for a ‘neutral’ party (Alliance as they are the largest neutral party).When the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) was signed in 1998 it was as a result if the so called Hume-Adams talks, although great credit must also go to David Trimble as well. The great John Hume was the leader of the SDLP, the moderate republican party who always condemn all violence out of hand. Sinn Fein on the other hand are of course highly tied to the republican paramilitaries. David Trimble was the leader of the moderate UUP, the Unionist moderates who also condemn all violence while the DUP have links to the Unionist paramilitaries. In the initial post GFA NI Assembly in Stormont it was the moderate UUP and SDLP who were by far the largest parties. However with the need to keep paramilitaries within the process this has shifted over time, and the centre moderates have been marginalised by the NI voters with power shifting to Sinn Fein and DUP. The political centre is now a very sparsely populated place here in NI, with the Alliance Party now having an increased role compared with 1998. IMHO this is a symptom of the volatility here, and explains (but not justifies) the strong reactions.Also IMHO it was a colossal blunder by the DUP to back Brexit, presumably preferring to be allied with the Conservative party, rather than thinking through the obvious and all too clear consequences.I don’t think it was a blunder by the DUP, I thunk it was a calculated act, to create division, I also think Arlene Foster is a nasty piece of workAs far as i'm aware she's never blown anyone up though, unlike...
I heard the statement on the trade figures by the times correspondent on the radio at ^-30 am that morning. I think you are wrong in your statement, he said that in a survey of companies 40% of companies trading with the EU had reported that exports to the EU had fallen in value. He also stated that 20% of companies in the survey had reported that the value of their exports to the EU had increased and they were mainly the larger companies in the survey. The overall value of exports in the time period because big business were generally doing well, was near comparable with figures before Brexit. Ignoring his full text of his report makes good headlines for the remainers who read the guardian I suppose, makes them feel better after a long run of defeats.
And the good news, for those who want to see a smaller economy, keeps on coming:City of London Brexit hit worse than expected says recent study:Over 400 financial firms in Britain have shifted activities, staff and a combined £1 trillion ($1.4 trillion) in assets to hubs in the European Union due to Brexit, with more expected to follow:https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-finance-And for the benefit of equilibrium within the debate, let’s not forget the 1000+ finance businesses who’ve said that they’ll be opening new offices in London post Brexit. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56155531.amp
And for the benefit of equilibrium within the debate, let’s not forget the 1000+ finance businesses who’ve said that they’ll be opening new offices in London post Brexit. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56155531.amp
Quote from: Herbert Anchovy on April 17, 2021, 09:14:20 amAnd for the benefit of equilibrium within the debate, let’s not forget the 1000+ finance businesses who’ve said that they’ll be opening new offices in London post Brexit. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56155531.ampIt doesn't say they'll be opening offices at all.
Quote from: Glyn_Wigley on April 17, 2021, 11:42:55 amQuote from: Herbert Anchovy on April 17, 2021, 09:14:20 amAnd for the benefit of equilibrium within the debate, let’s not forget the 1000+ finance businesses who’ve said that they’ll be opening new offices in London post Brexit. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56155531.ampIt doesn't say they'll be opening offices at all.The first paragraph in the article says “About 1000 EU finance firms are eying up opening offices in the UK for the first time”. Perhaps you know better than the BBC Glyn?
Quote from: Herbert Anchovy on April 17, 2021, 12:03:00 pmQuote from: Glyn_Wigley on April 17, 2021, 11:42:55 amQuote from: Herbert Anchovy on April 17, 2021, 09:14:20 amAnd for the benefit of equilibrium within the debate, let’s not forget the 1000+ finance businesses who’ve said that they’ll be opening new offices in London post Brexit. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56155531.ampIt doesn't say they'll be opening offices at all.The first paragraph in the article says “About 1000 EU finance firms are eying up opening offices in the UK for the first time”. Perhaps you know better than the BBC Glyn? That is opinion, not fact, and it isn't even the BBC's opinion at that. Or perhaps you know better, eh?The only fact the report contains is that '1,500 money managers, payment firms and insurers have applied for permission to continue operating in the UK after Brexit.''Continue operating' means they are already operating in the UK. They're not businesses new to the UK. Even if they're foreign companies that didn't have a physical presence in the UK before Brexit they won't need to have a physical presence afterwards, all they need is a UK-recognised legal entity to order to conduct their UK business, even if their entire workforce is outside the UK and stays outside the UK.
Quote from: Glyn_Wigley on April 17, 2021, 02:51:07 pmQuote from: Herbert Anchovy on April 17, 2021, 12:03:00 pmQuote from: Glyn_Wigley on April 17, 2021, 11:42:55 amQuote from: Herbert Anchovy on April 17, 2021, 09:14:20 amAnd for the benefit of equilibrium within the debate, let’s not forget the 1000+ finance businesses who’ve said that they’ll be opening new offices in London post Brexit. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56155531.ampIt doesn't say they'll be opening offices at all.The first paragraph in the article says “About 1000 EU finance firms are eying up opening offices in the UK for the first time”. Perhaps you know better than the BBC Glyn? That is opinion, not fact, and it isn't even the BBC's opinion at that. Or perhaps you know better, eh?The only fact the report contains is that '1,500 money managers, payment firms and insurers have applied for permission to continue operating in the UK after Brexit.''Continue operating' means they are already operating in the UK. They're not businesses new to the UK. Even if they're foreign companies that didn't have a physical presence in the UK before Brexit they won't need to have a physical presence afterwards, all they need is a UK-recognised legal entity to order to conduct their UK business, even if their entire workforce is outside the UK and stays outside the UK.I take it back Glyn..,you clearly don’t know better than the BBC. “Around two-thirds had no prior physical operations in Britain.” “Many of these business will be opening offices for the first time.” Actually, we could have a bit of fun with this. Maybe we could run a book based around how our remainer friends will spin this good news to bad? I’ll give you odds of: 2-1 The whole story is bullshit 3-1 The story doesn’t actually mean what it clearly says6-1 Businesses are moving to London, but they’re not the type of businesses we want here thank you very much 10-1 The story is just someone’s opinion without any basis in fact 50-1 Herbert anchovy is an ignorant, racist simpleton who is likely the bas**rd son of Nigel Farage and Julie Hartley-Brewer and believes any old bullshit written by the right wing media?
“Around two-thirds had no prior physical operations in Britain.”
“Many of these business will be opening offices for the first time.”
Touché Glyn. Excellent little comeback at the end there! Fact based on assessment of the feedback provided by the organisations consulted? It seems quite clear to me Glyn. Look, I’m long enough in the tooth to understand the lay of the land on this forum....good news Brexit stories are b*llocks, bad news stories about Brexit are fact. I know that’s the name of the game. An article from a respected news organisation reports that businesses are planning to open offices here can’t be true right? Goes against the Brexit narrative and all that. For what it’s worth, despite the criticism they receive I tend to believe news stories provided by the beeb. Both good news Brexit stories and bad. I’ve no reason to doubt this story despite your best efforts to spin it, and the next negative Brexit story I read from the bbc I’ll also believe. Open your mind Glyn, you’ll be much happier.