6 County Assembly Elections - 5th May 2022

[Armagh18]

Does joint rule kick in if the Assembly doesn't work? Or direct rule from London?

Direct Rule I'd say but through whatever numpty gets landed with the Secretary of State punishment role.

Not necessarily. Direct rule is a controversial step and isn't just automatically triggered in the event of an assembly collapse. During the last suspension, while the budget was set by Westminster, the allocation of the budget, as well as the day-to-day governance, was carried out by the civil service.

The current ministers stay in situ and run the departments. Which is a completely undemocratic and provides us with shite government.
The DUP have to go in to government, they are committing the biggest act of self sabotage since Brexit if they don't.

Can't see it but Christ wouldn't it be brilliant if DUP were the 3rd biggest party

[imtommygunn]

The Wells thing and Arlene Foster out with the knives is pretty big too. They are a mess. It will be a sad reflection of our society if they are still the biggest party or anything next to near it.

[johnnycool]

The Wells thing and Arlene Foster out with the knives is pretty big too. They are a mess. It will be a sad reflection of our society if they are still the biggest party or anything next to near it.

Arlene going in two footed on Well's but asks the question as when she was leader did she not do more if he's such a misogynist and self serving bollox, but then again that seems par for the course with that particular party.

[marty34]

Does joint rule kick in if the Assembly doesn't work? Or direct rule from London?

Direct Rule I'd say but through whatever numpty gets landed with the Secretary of State punishment role.

Not necessarily. Direct rule is a controversial step and isn't just automatically triggered in the event of an assembly collapse. During the last suspension, while the budget was set by Westminster, the allocation of the budget, as well as the day-to-day governance, was carried out by the civil service.

The current ministers stay in situ and run the departments. Which is a completely undemocratic and provides us with shite government.
The DUP have to go in to government, they are committing the biggest act of self sabotage since Brexit if they don't.

The DUP think Brexit was a good thing.

[marty34]

What about the distasteful tweet by the clown John Taylor?

Obviously I don't want to put it up but it was nasty.

He's another Wells.

[Wildweasel74]

She wasn't so mouthy against the ginger ninja the other day.

[marty34]

The Wells thing and Arlene Foster out with the knives is pretty big too. They are a mess. It will be a sad reflection of our society if they are still the biggest party or anything next to near it.

Arlene going in two footed on Well's but asks the question as when she was leader did she not do more if he's such a misogynist and self serving bollox, but then again that seems par for the course with that particular party.

Correct Johnny - she had, as boss, chances to pull him up over these kinds of issues but never did - kind of, ah, sure isn't that our Jim' type of thing.

DUP in a real mess - the party must be badly split still since the Poots' leadership bid etc.

Wtf is the Pastor Rusty thing about? It really is a wtf moment thing. I saw a photo of him with Allister at Stomont yet Allister denies knowing who brought him to the Lurgan rally.

They are really heading to the Trump style political side shows now.

[imtommygunn]

It also indicates what we really know - the leader of the party is really just a figurehead an not actually a leader at all. If she led Wells would be out. If Jeffrey really led then Wells would have been out and arguably Poots.

[yellowcard]

It also indicates what we really know - the leader of the party is really just a figurehead an not actually a leader at all. If she led Wells would be out. If Jeffrey really led then Wells would have been out and arguably Poots.

The DUP leader no matter who is in position, is merely a puppet figurehead ever since Paisley retired. You only have to look at Jeffrey Donaldson standing on a public platform with dignitaries such as Jamie Bryson and Rusty Thomas to know what lengths he will go to in order to try and shore up votes. He will do whatever OO and LCC tell him to do, the same as Arlene before him. Doug Beattie has already admitted that he has received threats in relation to him pulling his support for the anti protocol rallies. At least Beattie is leading his party whereas with Jeffrey Donaldson it is hard to know what exactly he stands for, he would fit in well with the current Tory party.   

[johnnycool]

It also indicates what we really know - the leader of the party is really just a figurehead an not actually a leader at all. If she led Wells would be out. If Jeffrey really led then Wells would have been out and arguably Poots.

Tim Cairns had a bit of a nibble back at Arlene there on Twatter. Need to keep an eye on that one.

In relation as to who is actually running the DUP, there's evidently two factions vying for power, Poots was the leader of one as he narrowly beat Jeffrey to the first leaders election after he'd run Arlene out of town.

Jeffrey got his second bite when Poots was undermined when he evidently agreed to the ILA being passed in WM to get Givan in the hotseat.

But ever since there's been leaks from both sides, Jeffrey talking to the UUP about defecting and Poots having to move to South Belfast as he wasn't wanted in South Down must have been a kick in the balls for him...

This will get nasty if things really go pear shaped in May and it will be interesting who takes what side in the battle within the DUP shíthouse.

[general_lee]

Loyalists are starting to get restless. SF election posters in Portadown has them up in arms, likewise the sight of SDLP posters in south Belfast has them riled - even confronted by the brave, female candidate who they then assaulted. 5th of May will be a hard one for them to swallow

[Armagh18]

Loyalists are starting to get restless. SF election posters in Portadown has them up in arms, likewise the sight of SDLP posters in south Belfast has them riled - even confronted by the brave, female candidate who they then assaulted. 5th of May will be a hard one for them to swallow

TUV ad was on tv last night. Got a great laugh out of it, pure and utter bigotted propaganda.

Fun drinking game would be take a shot every time Sinn Fein is mentioned. Says a lot about the state of the North that they'll probably get a decent chunk of votes.

[clarshack]

Loyalists are starting to get restless. SF election posters in Portadown has them up in arms, likewise the sight of SDLP posters in south Belfast has them riled - even confronted by the brave, female candidate who they then assaulted. 5th of May will be a hard one for them to swallow

TUV ad was on tv last night. Got a great laugh out of it, pure and utter bigotted propaganda.

Fun drinking game would be take a shot every time Sinn Fein is mentioned. Says a lot about the state of the North that they'll probably get a decent chunk of votes.

won't be shocked to see the TUV do well either as there are still loads of bitter loyalists here.

[RedHand88]

Loyalists are starting to get restless. SF election posters in Portadown has them up in arms, likewise the sight of SDLP posters in south Belfast has them riled - even confronted by the brave, female candidate who they then assaulted. 5th of May will be a hard one for them to swallow

TUV ad was on tv last night. Got a great laugh out of it, pure and utter bigotted propaganda.

Fun drinking game would be take a shot every time Sinn Fein is mentioned. Says a lot about the state of the North that they'll probably get a decent chunk of votes.

.

Heard about this. Anyone got a video of it?

[johnnycool]

Loyalists are starting to get restless. SF election posters in Portadown has them up in arms, likewise the sight of SDLP posters in south Belfast has them riled - even confronted by the brave, female candidate who they then assaulted. 5th of May will be a hard one for them to swallow

TUV ad was on tv last night. Got a great laugh out of it, pure and utter bigotted propaganda.

Fun drinking game would be take a shot every time Sinn Fein is mentioned. Says a lot about the state of the North that they'll probably get a decent chunk of votes.

won't be shocked to see the TUV do well either as there are still loads of bitter loyalists here.

Will they do well enough to get a candidate over the line anywhere else other than North Antrim?

I don't think they will but they'll probably give the DUP quite a lot of transfers which in all fairness were probably DUP first preference voters in the past anyway,,