Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[marty34]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68196008

Starting to get their ducks lined up in a row already.

If nothing really improves (which is highly likely) they can all stand back and point the finger as Westminster and say it is all there fault because they did not pony up the £££.  Easier to do and less damaging when it comes to elections instead of having to make hard calls when it comes to generating revenue.

They have been doing that for years in fairness, it wouldn't be anything new. None of them willing to make difficult decisions and will leave the difficult decisions in Health to Swann

Problem is if there is money raising powers like water charges and perscription charges, there'll be uproar.

So if a politician does this, people will go mad.

Same as closing hospitals etc. It's common sense but not a vote winner. In fairness, NHS needs a total revamp, not just closing a few hospitals. A new health service needs to be planned for.

[armaghniac]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68196008

Starting to get their ducks lined up in a row already.

If nothing really improves (which is highly likely) they can all stand back and point the finger as Westminster and say it is all there fault because they did not pony up the £££.  Easier to do and less damaging when it comes to elections instead of having to make hard calls when it comes to generating revenue.

They have been doing that for years in fairness, it wouldn't be anything new. None of them willing to make difficult decisions and will leave the difficult decisions in Health to Swann

Problem is if there is money raising powers like water charges and perscription charges, there'll be uproar.

So if a politician does this, people will go mad.

Same as closing hospitals etc. It's common sense but not a vote winner. In fairness, NHS needs a total revamp, not just closing a few hospitals. A new health service needs to be planned for.

Is it more important for everyone to have free prescriptions or for ambulances to come when you are seriously ill?

Water charges on the meter are fine, if you waste it then you pay for it.

[Tony Baloney]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68196008

Starting to get their ducks lined up in a row already.

If nothing really improves (which is highly likely) they can all stand back and point the finger as Westminster and say it is all there fault because they did not pony up the £££.  Easier to do and less damaging when it comes to elections instead of having to make hard calls when it comes to generating revenue.

They have been doing that for years in fairness, it wouldn't be anything new. None of them willing to make difficult decisions and will leave the difficult decisions in Health to Swann

Problem is if there is money raising powers like water charges and perscription charges, there'll be uproar.

So if a politician does this, people will go mad.

Same as closing hospitals etc. It's common sense but not a vote winner. In fairness, NHS needs a total revamp, not just closing a few hospitals. A new health service needs to be planned for.

Is it more important for everyone to have free prescriptions or for ambulances to come when you are seriously ill?

Water charges on the meter are fine, if you waste it then you pay for it.

Free prescriptions were a load of balls. If people can afford to pay for an essential service which generates revenue to fund another essential service, or offset the cost for those who cant, then they should do so. Politicians here are cowards and will retreat to the parish pump the instant there is a hard decision needed.

[imtommygunn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68196008

Starting to get their ducks lined up in a row already.

If nothing really improves (which is highly likely) they can all stand back and point the finger as Westminster and say it is all there fault because they did not pony up the £££.  Easier to do and less damaging when it comes to elections instead of having to make hard calls when it comes to generating revenue.

They have been doing that for years in fairness, it wouldn't be anything new. None of them willing to make difficult decisions and will leave the difficult decisions in Health to Swann

Problem is if there is money raising powers like water charges and perscription charges, there'll be uproar.

So if a politician does this, people will go mad.

Same as closing hospitals etc. It's common sense but not a vote winner. In fairness, NHS needs a total revamp, not just closing a few hospitals. A new health service needs to be planned for.

Is it more important for everyone to have free prescriptions or for ambulances to come when you are seriously ill?

Water charges on the meter are fine, if you waste it then you pay for it.

I doubt if we start paying for prescriptions that ambulances will suddenly start being readily available. It'll take more than money to fix that kind of thing.

[trailer]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

[RedHand88]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

[trailer]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

[RedHand88]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

[NAG1]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

Dont feed it 

[trailer]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

Dont feed it 

Typical SF supporter response. Point out their hypocrisy and it's don't feed it. Ignore him.
It's an absolutely legitimate question to ask in the context of SFs past.
SF have always always criticised others, even mocked them for similar actions. SDLP are the stoops. But here we are. SF... the new stoops.

[LC]

Meanwhile in the real world away from the pantomine that is Stormont.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68214768

My heart goes out to people living this situation, suffice to say they probably don't (understandably) give 2 f@=ks about the protocol, United Ireland, having a nationalist first minister etc.

Not a clear cut red white and blue or green and gold issue so no brownie points (votes at election time) for politicians to be seen prioritising things like this over throwing money at their own pet projects.

[RedHand88]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

Dont feed it 

Typical SF supporter response. Point out their hypocrisy and it's don't feed it. Ignore him.
It's an absolutely legitimate question to ask in the context of SFs past.
SF have always always criticised others, even mocked them for similar actions. SDLP are the stoops. But here we are. SF... the new stoops.

In your eyes, are political parties forbidden from changing policy, attitude, beliefs? Does society not change and should political parties not reflect that?

I don't know what % of SFs membership were members under Thatchers rule but I'd wager its low. Most will have joined since then (including the current First Minister).

On a scale of 1 to 10, how annoyed are you that this historic moment for Nationalism has been enjoyed by SF, not the SDLP?

[trueblue1234]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

Dont feed it 

Typical SF supporter response. Point out their hypocrisy and it's don't feed it. Ignore him.
It's an absolutely legitimate question to ask in the context of SFs past.
SF have always always criticised others, even mocked them for similar actions. SDLP are the stoops. But here we are. SF... the new stoops.

It's really not hypocrisy. The current British government isn't employing shoot to kill, interment, collusion, sectarian policing etc. it's a world away from the 70's, 80's and 90's.
The SDLP have become an irrelevance. They can blame SF for that if they wish, but the reality is that they should look at some of their actions and ask why so many voters left them in their droves. They showed a lack of leadership at pivotal times.

[trailer]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

Dont feed it 

Typical SF supporter response. Point out their hypocrisy and it's don't feed it. Ignore him.
It's an absolutely legitimate question to ask in the context of SFs past.
SF have always always criticised others, even mocked them for similar actions. SDLP are the stoops. But here we are. SF... the new stoops.

It's really not hypocrisy. The current British government isn't employing shoot to kill, interment, collusion, sectarian policing etc. it's a world away from the 70's, 80's and 90's.
The SDLP have become an irrelevance. They can blame SF for that if they wish, but the reality is that they should look at some of their actions and ask why so many voters left them in their droves. They showed a lack of leadership at pivotal times.

In the name of God

[trailer]

What did we all make of MON hugging the Prime Minister of the UK?

Are SF the new Stoops? Surely diehard combatants are looking at this thinking WTF? Or families of IRA men killed by the British are saying to themselves what was this all about?

Incredible scenes. 

Would you rather she told him to eff off?

Was that the only two options? Hug him or f@ck him off?
It would appear that the IRAs campaign of violence was pretty pointless if the SF deputy leader was going to hug the British Prime Minister. Could you imagine MMcG hugging Thatcher?

I just want to establish if there is anything that MON could do in that situation that you'd be happy with.

Thatcher is definitely not Sunak by the way, so that's a moot point.

Dont feed it 

Typical SF supporter response. Point out their hypocrisy and it's don't feed it. Ignore him.
It's an absolutely legitimate question to ask in the context of SFs past.
SF have always always criticised others, even mocked them for similar actions. SDLP are the stoops. But here we are. SF... the new stoops.

In your eyes, are political parties forbidden from changing policy, attitude, beliefs? Does society not change and should political parties not reflect that?

I don't know what % of SFs membership were members under Thatchers rule but I'd wager its low. Most will have joined since then (including the current First Minister).

On a scale of 1 to 10, how annoyed are you that this historic moment for Nationalism has been enjoyed by SF, not the SDLP?

I am delighted.
All I want to do is shine a light on SF's hypocrisy and the waste of over 3000s lives when we could have gotten to this point much sooner and many more lives would have been saved, especially the innocent ones.