The DUP thread

[armaghniac]

But if Protestant students from those schools I mentioned had to go to college at home they would, they probably choose to go away as the places is a shambles, and they can afford it too possibly

We know it is a shambles. The question is why do people not aim that it not be?

[delgany]

There was an article in Irish News recently detailing the difference between university places in North and the 26. There's a university for every 400,000 citizens in the South, in North it is 1 per million. While the "South" in the 60s - led by Patrick Hillary - were building regional technical colleges (which have now merged to become 5 technological universities), Unionists were blocking education investment East of the Bann. Too bad young Unionist supporters don't see what a terrible legacy they left when running the place.

But if Protestant students from those schools I mentioned had to go to college at home they would, they probably choose to go away as the places is a shambles, and they can afford it too possibly

Alot of students who live in Greater Belfast / North Down/South Antrim Area are not keen on going to Uni in Belfast. Part of Student Life is getting away from your locality and spreading your wings.

[Mourne Red]

Jeffrey will have to get off the fence. The latest poll shows DUP voters against the Framework, but non unionists in favour
https://twitter.com/BelTel/status/1634460289620951040

• 67% of people - Yes
  73% of DUP voters - No
  56% UUP voters - Yes
  38% of unionists - Yes
  98% of Alliance/Green voters, 97% of nationalists

Give it 15 years and half of that 73% of voters will be dead

[armaghniac]

Give it 15 years and half of that 73% of voters will be dead

More than three-quarters of 18 to 34-year-olds (77%) back the framework compared to 65% of 35 to 54-year-olds and 61% of those over 55.

Sadly, there is bigotry among the young also, if not quite in the same proportion.

[Jell 0 Biafra]

2/3 of kids from here who go to Uni in GB settle there.  I don't care what background they are from, that's a sad situation. Partly because of a lack of funding for our universities.  The grades for the likes of St Mary's are through the roof.

Would it be worth considering that a hefty percentage of those who go to uni in England, have already formed a desire to leave NI for good, and studying in England provides a suitable window of opportunities?

Yeah that's fair. I don't know what the split is between those who want to leave and those who are forced to leave.

Can't speak to the six counties experience, but when I first moved to the US, on a grad student visa, I had no intention of staying. I was just in it for the education and the experience of somewhere else.  But then life happens.  4-6 years living in a place, from when you're late teen/early 20s is formative.  You make friends, fall in love, get job opportunities.  Even if you originally intended to go home, that can change in a hurry.

[NAG1]

Give it 15 years and half of that 73% of voters will be dead

More than three-quarters of 18 to 34-year-olds (77%) back the framework compared to 65% of 35 to 54-year-olds and 61% of those over 55.

Sadly, there is bigotry among the young also, if not quite in the same proportion.

Going by these latest polls and the Brexit vote statistics, really starting to look like a scheme of withdrawing the vote after a certain age would be a good idea 

[johnnycool]

UK Gov telling the DUP that the WF is the only deal in town.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/downing-street-warns-dup-that-windsor-framework-is-best-deal-available-to-ni/1638827166.html

Wee Jeffrey should be looking for a win in this situation but looking over his shoulder at the LCC/Bryson/Allister is never going to be a long term strategy but he hasn't the toy dolls to face them down.

[Rossfan]

Always the lowest common denominator with Unionism.

[johnnycool]

A very good summation of the quandary the DUP find itself in.

https://unherd.com/2023/03/larkins-lesson-for-northern-ireland/

[armaghniac]

UK Gov telling the DUP that the WF is the only deal in town.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/downing-street-warns-dup-that-windsor-framework-is-best-deal-available-to-ni/1638827166.html

Wee Jeffrey should be looking for a win in this situation but looking over his shoulder at the LCC/Bryson/Allister is never going to be a long term strategy but he hasn't the toy dolls to face them down.

Basically, Sunak rang the EU and said "we both know Boris is a bollix, you revise the deal and give any flexibility you can and I'll implement it without coming back for more". That is what happened, and nobody has any interest in what the DUP think, an honest effort was made and everyone has moved on.

[marty34]

UK Gov telling the DUP that the WF is the only deal in town.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/downing-street-warns-dup-that-windsor-framework-is-best-deal-available-to-ni/1638827166.html

Wee Jeffrey should be looking for a win in this situation but looking over his shoulder at the LCC/Bryson/Allister is never going to be a long term strategy but he hasn't the toy dolls to face them down.

Basically, Sunak rang the EU and said "we both know Boris is a bollix, you revise the deal and give any flexibility you can and I'll implement it without coming back for more". That is what happened, and nobody has any interest in what the DUP think, an honest effort was made and everyone has moved on.

Yeah, they had their chance. Time to move on.

A very small minority wagging the dog.

What will their ploy be now?  Bluff it out to after the May elections?

Then what?

[seafoid]

https://www.ft.com/content/67db49bd-c4e4-4c48-a6a1-206feb0b0139
The British Social Attitudes survey reported that 77 per cent of Britons wanted less immigration; over half stated they wanted it reduced by "a lot". 

The DUP and the Tories rode this wave from 2016 on.
But now things are different. Inflation is out of control

[bennydorano]

Inflation is out of control? Currently falling and forecast to be 2.9% by year-end (in UK). Inflation today in Argentina is over 100%, now that is out of control.

[seafoid]

Inflation is out of control? Currently falling and forecast to be 2.9% by year-end (in UK). Inflation today in Argentina is over 100%, now that is out of control.

It's currently very high in the UK and in the US it is sticky and not expected to fall to the Central Bank's target .
So the Fed may have to manufacture a recession. This would be quite serious.

[armaghniac]

UK Gov telling the DUP that the WF is the only deal in town.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/downing-street-warns-dup-that-windsor-framework-is-best-deal-available-to-ni/1638827166.html

Wee Jeffrey should be looking for a win in this situation but looking over his shoulder at the LCC/Bryson/Allister is never going to be a long term strategy but he hasn't the toy dolls to face them down.

Basically, Sunak rang the EU and said "we both know Boris is a bollix, you revise the deal and give any flexibility you can and I'll implement it without coming back for more". That is what happened, and nobody has any interest in what the DUP think, an honest effort was made and everyone has moved on.

Yeah, they had their chance. Time to move on.

A very small minority wagging the dog.

What will their ploy be now?  Bluff it out to after the May elections?

Then what?

Well you can't give in now and have Biden blowing about the GFA with Michelle at his side.
Then you have the elections.
Then you have the marching season....