The DUP thread

[balladmaker]

DUP have put a woman in so none of the men had to play second fiddle
Also as it gives them the progressive optic - woman heading up a lead role
They've also deliberately put ELP forward despite being unelected specifically as a f**k you to Nationalists and to try and cheapen/dilute the achievement
At the end of the day they took the soup, and they will continue to do so as they only thing they care about is their own salaries, expenses and getting re-elected to stay on the gravy train
Their lack of real leadership, plan and the unionist brain drain will be their downfall

100% nail on the head!

[Milltown Row2]

DUP have put a woman in so none of the men had to play second fiddle
Also as it gives them the progressive optic - woman heading up a lead role
They've also deliberately put ELP forward despite being unelected specifically as a f**k you to Nationalists and to try and cheapen/dilute the achievement
At the end of the day they took the soup, and they will continue to do so as they only thing they care about is their own salaries, expenses and getting re-elected to stay on the gravy train
Their lack of real leadership, plan and the unionist brain drain will be their downfall

100% nail on the head!

Surely that will backfire with ELP having no real creditability at the elections and with such a seasoned campaigner like MON that she will wipe the floor with her? 

I wouldn't have ELP down as a door mat either, and she could surely see through the "lets put a woman" in there attitude (which I don't think it is)

[marty34]

I'd say they'll stick ELP in a safe seat to get her over the line.

Plus this will help her raise her profile.

[AustinPowers]

DUP have put a woman in so none of the men had to play second fiddle
Also as it gives them the progressive optic - woman heading up a lead role
They've also deliberately put ELP forward despite being unelected specifically as a f**k you to Nationalists and to try and cheapen/dilute the achievement
At the end of the day they took the soup, and they will continue to do so as they only thing they care about is their own salaries, expenses and getting re-elected to stay on the gravy train
Their lack of real leadership, plan and the unionist brain drain will be their downfall

Yep x 100

[93-DY-SAM]

DUP have put a woman in so none of the men had to play second fiddle
Also as it gives them the progressive optic - woman heading up a lead role
They've also deliberately put ELP forward despite being unelected specifically as a f**k you to Nationalists and to try and cheapen/dilute the achievement
At the end of the day they took the soup, and they will continue to do so as they only thing they care about is their own salaries, expenses and getting re-elected to stay on the gravy train
Their lack of real leadership, plan and the unionist brain drain will be their downfall

Hard to argue with any of that, but what is their strategy for the next election or do they not think that far ahead?

ELP has proven unelectable in the past, so chances of her getting in through a vote are slim enough.

I think you know the answer to that already. It seems that for a long time now they are only capable of thinking about a day in advance. Hence the mess they made of Brexit and everything else since. And it is glorious to watch. 

[tiempo]

Hard to argue with any of that, but what is their strategy for the next election or do they not think that far ahead?

ELP has proven unelectable in the past, so chances of her getting in through a vote are slim enough.

Bogeyman bogeyman bogeyman

[Ed Ricketts]

I'd say they'll stick ELP in a safe seat to get her over the line.

Plus this will help her raise her profile.

Poots will go at the end of the term and she'll be back to the safe DUP South Belfast seat.

[Rossfan]

Wonder how long will DUPUDA stay in?


https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/rumblings-within-dup-continue-as-emma-little-pengelly-defends-return-to-stormont/a1889379380.html

[armaghniac]

There seems be a real effort by the DUP lately
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68490776.amp

[Shamrock Shore]

My flabber is gasted!

[imtommygunn]

You can see a wee bit of a shift now with them. Jeffrey's speech etc said it. To preserve the "union" they'll need to appease more than DUP voters. Question is will this lose them voters in the process.

I do expect them to revert back to the norm at some point...

[AustinPowers]

There seems be a real effort by the DUP lately
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68490776.amp

Maybe the penny  has finally dropped  that in order to try and stop the  runaway  train that is  a United Ireland , unionism needs to  make NI  appealing to nationalists  .  I doubt it though

[Rossfan]

You can see a wee bit of a shift now with them. Jeffrey's speech etc said it. To preserve the "union" they'll need to appease more than DUP voters. Question is will this lose them voters in the process.

I do expect them to revert back to the norm at some point...

Robinson came out with the same sort of talk back in the day.
Then Belfast City Council stopped flying the Butcher's apron...........

[trueblue1234]

There seems be a real effort by the DUP lately
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68490776.amp

Maybe the penny  has finally dropped  that in order to try and stop the  runaway  train that is  a United Ireland , unionism needs to  make NI  appealing to nationalists  .  I doubt it though

Can't see it unfortunately. And the reason is that making NI appealing to a nationalist will automatically make it unappealing to some unionists who see every grain of equality as a stripping of their Britishness. It's a zero sum game.

[lurganblue]

Big day for the DUP yesterday. Givan speaking Irish and ELP proving to be better with camog than Michelle. It was nice to see.