6 County Assembly Elections - 5th May 2022

[Armamike]

Surely the only 2 unionist parties that could merge would be the DUP and TUV. If the UUP were to join that would split the parties ideologies with the UUP being more inclusive than the likes of DUP and TUV. This would just move the more moderate and small Unionists over to Alliance and weaken the pro unionism parties even further

Exactly. This is as obvious as the sun in the sky. The sort of extremist TUV/DUP party that Donaldson wants would be unpalatable to a substantial proportion of UU people who would either stay at home or vote for Alliance. Such a party would certainly not attract back those voters who defected to Alliance.

It's a very similistic argument from a very simple thinker.  Unionism is a broad church ranging from the fundamentalist bible thumpers, loyalists in hard up areas, to the liberal middle classes.  How could there ever by unionist unity there.

[johnnycool]

Surely the only 2 unionist parties that could merge would be the DUP and TUV. If the UUP were to join that would split the parties ideologies with the UUP being more inclusive than the likes of DUP and TUV. This would just move the more moderate and small Unionists over to Alliance and weaken the pro unionism parties even further

Exactly. This is as obvious as the sun in the sky. The sort of extremist TUV/DUP party that Donaldson wants would be unpalatable to a substantial proportion of UU people who would either stay at home or vote for Alliance. Such a party would certainly not attract back those voters who defected to Alliance.

It's a very similistic argument from a very simple thinker.  Unionism is a broad church ranging from the fundamentalist bible thumpers, loyalists in hard up areas, to the liberal middle classes.  How could there ever by unionist unity there.

What Jeffrey means by unionist unity is for everyone to follow the DUP, he isn't thinking about ceeding ground to the perceived more tolerant UUP.

[Armamike]

Yes. But the various factions will not join under the one umbrella, unless there is a real (rather than inflated) threat to the union.  The hard liners might buy the scaremongering but the moderates won't.

[trailer]

Yes. But the various factions will not join under the one umbrella, unless there is a real (rather than inflated) threat to the union.  The hard liners might buy the scaremongering but the moderates won't.

Totally and it is never challenged. It's about everyone just voting for the DUP and making them bigger.

[grounded]

You would think nurses didn't know that is was a famously underpaid profession when they signed up to be one. They are all the same with their loud mouth personalities when I was in hospital. Actually the thought of having to be around nurses makes me want to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid hospitals.

What a horrible comment. It is not fair to tar them all with the one brush. It is like any profession these days

+1    very sad individual to write something like that.

[dec]

You would think nurses didn't know that is was a famously underpaid profession when they signed up to be one. They are all the same with their loud mouth personalities when I was in hospital. Actually the thought of having to be around nurses makes me want to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid hospitals.

What a horrible comment. It is not fair to tar them all with the one brush. It is like any profession these days

+1    very sad individual to write something like that.

signed up two weeks ago, obvious troll.

[samuel maguire]

You would think nurses didn't know that is was a famously underpaid profession when they signed up to be one. They are all the same with their loud mouth personalities when I was in hospital. Actually the thought of having to be around nurses makes me want to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid hospitals.

What a horrible comment. It is not fair to tar them all with the one brush. It is like any profession these days

+1    very sad individual to write something like that.

signed up two weeks ago, obvious troll.

I would put my money on it...

[marty34]

Surely the only 2 unionist parties that could merge would be the DUP and TUV. If the UUP were to join that would split the parties ideologies with the UUP being more inclusive than the likes of DUP and TUV. This would just move the more moderate and small Unionists over to Alliance and weaken the pro unionism parties even further

Exactly. This is as obvious as the sun in the sky. The sort of extremist TUV/DUP party that Donaldson wants would be unpalatable to a substantial proportion of UU people who would either stay at home or vote for Alliance. Such a party would certainly not attract back those voters who defected to Alliance.

It's a very similistic argument from a very simple thinker.  Unionism is a broad church ranging from the fundamentalist bible thumpers, loyalists in hard up areas, to the liberal middle classes.  How could there ever by unionist unity there.

What Jeffrey means by unionist unity is for everyone to follow the DUP, he isn't thinking about ceeding ground to the perceived more tolerant UUP.

After every election, when they are not top dog, they come out with unionist unity and don't be shredding the vote etc.

It's all about if you don't vote the DUP, you are letting nationalists take seats but guaranteed they'll not step aside.

The thing to remember is it's the same on the nationalist side with the SDLP, Aontú and PBP.

[Dougal Maguire]

You would think nurses didn't know that is was a famously underpaid profession when they signed up to be one. They are all the same with their loud mouth personalities when I was in hospital. Actually the thought of having to be around nurses makes me want to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid hospitals.

What a horrible comment. It is not fair to tar them all with the one brush. It is like any profession these days

+1    very sad individual to write something like that.

signed up two weeks ago, obvious troll.

Absolutely. I'm surprised folks even bothered to respond

[Snapchap]

Below is a section from Brian Feeney's column in today's Irish News re the border poll issue. As I said in this thread a few days ago, demographic changes have brought about the reality of a nationalist electoral majority and it's universally understood and accepted that this demographic shift is not just set to continue, but to actually accelerate. That acceleration means a border poll in the short to medium term is an inevitability. Therefor, for the Irish Government to continue to refuse to make preparations for such a poll is an absolute abdication of responsibility.

"The direction of travel is clear to all but the DUP. Demographic change is accelerating, as the elections of 2022 and last week proves. Unionism is on a down escalator...
What has to happen is that, first and foremost, the Irish Government must admit the impetus of the speed of the demographic and therefor electoral change and begin preparing for the inevitable referendum on self-determination as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement....
As it is, unionism has a dwindling majority in parts of two counties and in East Belfast. Change is approaching fast. Therefor it is irresponsible of the Irish Government not to put in place procedures for establishing what will be on offer to people, north and south, in a united Ireland. That has to be an all-party offer. A united Ireland doesn't belong to one party, so what's the process for preparing for what's coming?"

[trailer]

Below is a section from Brian Feeney's column in today's Irish News re the border poll issue. As I said in this thread a few days ago, demographic changes have brought about the reality of a nationalist electoral majority and it's universally understood and accepted that this demographic shift is not just set to continue, but to actually accelerate. That acceleration means a border poll in the short to medium term is an inevitability. Therefor, for the Irish Government to continue to refuse to make preparations for such a poll is an absolute abdication of responsibility.

"The direction of travel is clear to all but the DUP. Demographic change is accelerating, as the elections of 2022 and last week proves. Unionism is on a down escalator...
What has to happen is that, first and foremost, the Irish Government must admit the impetus of the speed of the demographic and therefor electoral change and begin preparing for the inevitable referendum on self-determination as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement....
As it is, unionism has a dwindling majority in parts of two counties and in East Belfast. Change is approaching fast. Therefor it is irresponsible of the Irish Government not to put in place procedures for establishing what will be on offer to people, north and south, in a united Ireland. That has to be an all-party offer. A united Ireland doesn't belong to one party, so what's the process for preparing for what's coming?"

Chat already from Unionists that support for Alliance means Unionists + Alliance vote is an indication that people are happy with the status quo. I wouldn't imagine we have any Alliance voters on the board but by voting for them expect it to be spun as a vote for the union.

[LeoMc]

Have they not been claiming for years that a vote for a alliance is a vote for SF, now it's a vote for the Union!

[weareros]

Below is a section from Brian Feeney's column in today's Irish News re the border poll issue. As I said in this thread a few days ago, demographic changes have brought about the reality of a nationalist electoral majority and it's universally understood and accepted that this demographic shift is not just set to continue, but to actually accelerate. That acceleration means a border poll in the short to medium term is an inevitability. Therefor, for the Irish Government to continue to refuse to make preparations for such a poll is an absolute abdication of responsibility.

"The direction of travel is clear to all but the DUP. Demographic change is accelerating, as the elections of 2022 and last week proves. Unionism is on a down escalator...
What has to happen is that, first and foremost, the Irish Government must admit the impetus of the speed of the demographic and therefor electoral change and begin preparing for the inevitable referendum on self-determination as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement....
As it is, unionism has a dwindling majority in parts of two counties and in East Belfast. Change is approaching fast. Therefor it is irresponsible of the Irish Government not to put in place procedures for establishing what will be on offer to people, north and south, in a united Ireland. That has to be an all-party offer. A united Ireland doesn't belong to one party, so what's the process for preparing for what's coming?"

Chat already from Unionists that support for Alliance means Unionists + Alliance vote is an indication that people are happy with the status quo. I wouldn't imagine we have any Alliance voters on the board but by voting for them expect it to be spun as a vote for the union.

Even The Newsletter is carrying an Opinion piece that Alliance is not a Union vote:

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion/sydney-elliott-alliance-vote-transfers-suggest-the-centre-is-moving-towards-nationalism-4145462

[johnnycool]

Below is a section from Brian Feeney's column in today's Irish News re the border poll issue. As I said in this thread a few days ago, demographic changes have brought about the reality of a nationalist electoral majority and it's universally understood and accepted that this demographic shift is not just set to continue, but to actually accelerate. That acceleration means a border poll in the short to medium term is an inevitability. Therefor, for the Irish Government to continue to refuse to make preparations for such a poll is an absolute abdication of responsibility.

"The direction of travel is clear to all but the DUP. Demographic change is accelerating, as the elections of 2022 and last week proves. Unionism is on a down escalator...
What has to happen is that, first and foremost, the Irish Government must admit the impetus of the speed of the demographic and therefor electoral change and begin preparing for the inevitable referendum on self-determination as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement....
As it is, unionism has a dwindling majority in parts of two counties and in East Belfast. Change is approaching fast. Therefor it is irresponsible of the Irish Government not to put in place procedures for establishing what will be on offer to people, north and south, in a united Ireland. That has to be an all-party offer. A united Ireland doesn't belong to one party, so what's the process for preparing for what's coming?"

Chat already from Unionists that support for Alliance means Unionists + Alliance vote is an indication that people are happy with the status quo. I wouldn't imagine we have any Alliance voters on the board but by voting for them expect it to be spun as a vote for the union.

I'd know plenty of nationalists who vote Alliance as the lesser of evils if you're only likely to get a varying hue of unionist on the ballot, more so at Assembly and GE elections.
SDLP and SF have no chance down here in those elections.

[Snapchap]

Below is a section from Brian Feeney's column in today's Irish News re the border poll issue. As I said in this thread a few days ago, demographic changes have brought about the reality of a nationalist electoral majority and it's universally understood and accepted that this demographic shift is not just set to continue, but to actually accelerate. That acceleration means a border poll in the short to medium term is an inevitability. Therefor, for the Irish Government to continue to refuse to make preparations for such a poll is an absolute abdication of responsibility.

"The direction of travel is clear to all but the DUP. Demographic change is accelerating, as the elections of 2022 and last week proves. Unionism is on a down escalator...
What has to happen is that, first and foremost, the Irish Government must admit the impetus of the speed of the demographic and therefor electoral change and begin preparing for the inevitable referendum on self-determination as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement....
As it is, unionism has a dwindling majority in parts of two counties and in East Belfast. Change is approaching fast. Therefor it is irresponsible of the Irish Government not to put in place procedures for establishing what will be on offer to people, north and south, in a united Ireland. That has to be an all-party offer. A united Ireland doesn't belong to one party, so what's the process for preparing for what's coming?"

Chat already from Unionists that support for Alliance means Unionists + Alliance vote is an indication that people are happy with the status quo. I wouldn't imagine we have any Alliance voters on the board but by voting for them expect it to be spun as a vote for the union.

Even The Newsletter is carrying an Opinion piece that Alliance is not a Union vote:

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion/sydney-elliott-alliance-vote-transfers-suggest-the-centre-is-moving-towards-nationalism-4145462

Newsletter saying an increased Alliance vote is coming from nationalism, while Brian Feeney in the above quoted column noted that "young, socially liberal, professional unionists, if they voted, voted alliance". As ever with Alliance/undecideds, it's not all that clear where they stand. As far as Alliance goes, the big thing that the last election has suggested is that this much talked about 'Alliance surge' may have hit it's ceiling. The party showed no real growth this time around, particularly outside of it's east of the Bann comfort zones -it remains something of a non-entity west of the Bann. It is not the political powerhouse that the media seem keen to portray it as. As of these results, it sits only 2.4% above the third place (UUP), but 10% behind second place (DUP).