The DUP thread

[grounded]

Seems Donaldson has calculated he finally has enough support to push them back into Stormont. Big meeting on Monday to lay it all out. Maybe even back at work by the end of the week.

Response of the holdouts will be interesting. A bit of grumbling, but ultimately sticking with the DUP gravy train? Or does it become more messy? Unionism is so directionless at the minute - how stable can government be until they figure themselves out?

Stephen Nolan is back from holidays on Monday so there is still time to ramp up the outrage and scupper a deal.

 a  ' Lundy Monday ' Special?

[Orior]

Seems Donaldson has calculated he finally has enough support to push them back into Stormont. Big meeting on Monday to lay it all out. Maybe even back at work by the end of the week.

Response of the holdouts will be interesting. A bit of grumbling, but ultimately sticking with the DUP gravy train? Or does it become more messy? Unionism is so directionless at the minute - how stable can government be until they figure themselves out?

Stephen Nolan is back from holidays on Monday so there is still time to ramp up the outrage and scupper a deal.

 a  ' Lundy Monday ' Special?

Or he could have cool sensible heads on the show like Doug Beattie, Peter Shirlow or Newton Emerson. But I guess the  ratings are more important.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Seems Donaldson has calculated he finally has enough support to push them back into Stormont. Big meeting on Monday to lay it all out. Maybe even back at work by the end of the week.

Response of the holdouts will be interesting. A bit of grumbling, but ultimately sticking with the DUP gravy train? Or does it become more messy? Unionism is so directionless at the minute - how stable can government be until they figure themselves out?

Stephen Nolan is back from holidays on Monday so there is still time to ramp up the outrage and scupper a deal.

 a  ' Lundy Monday ' Special?

Or he could have cool sensible heads on the show like Doug Beattie, Peter Shirlow or Newton Emerson. But I guess the  ratings are more important.

Peter Shirlow "sensible" 

[red hander]

Have the popcorn in. Can't wait to see the bastards tearing themselves apart 

[NAG1]

Have the popcorn in. Can't wait to see the bastards tearing themselves apart 

Are the predictions of a 'bloodbath' too much to hope for? 

[Eire90]

Deal or NO deal

[grounded]

Seems Donaldson has calculated he finally has enough support to push them back into Stormont. Big meeting on Monday to lay it all out. Maybe even back at work by the end of the week.

Response of the holdouts will be interesting. A bit of grumbling, but ultimately sticking with the DUP gravy train? Or does it become more messy? Unionism is so directionless at the minute - how stable can government be until they figure themselves out?

Stephen Nolan is back from holidays on Monday so there is still time to ramp up the outrage and scupper a deal.

 a  ' Lundy Monday ' Special?

Or he could have cool sensible heads on the show like Doug Beattie, Peter Shirlow or Newton Emerson. But I guess the  ratings are more important.

Nope...  looks like ' Traitor Tuesday ' tomorrow! Grim Allister to the fore once again!

[Sportacus]

The same goons who backed the party's Brexit support are now packed into a hotel room listening to Jeffrey pretend they can have their cake and eat it. Idiots.
And Bryson is live tweeting what's being said.  Embarrassing.

[screenexile]

This is by far the worst example of party leadership I've ever seen. They can't stop someone in the meeting live tweeting? Surely they'd have had the foresight not to let anyone in with their phone.

If Jim McGuinness could do it before the Dubs game surely JD should have done it tonight!

[dec]

https://twitter.com/JamieBrysonCPNI/status/1752052609320423646

JD just began speaking:

Says negotiations are over, and DUP aren't going to get anymore.

Says we have reached moment of decision 1/ 
He says after much deliberation time is now to bring it to wider party. They expected the Gov to now move with publishing legislation 2/ 
First challenge to JD - asked who was the policy making body within the party. 2/ 
JD now complaining about leaks; he says every meeting he holds gets in the hands of the media in less than an hour. Says it impacts on way DUP do business and says it undermines trust. He says party therefore operating with constraints. 3/ 
JD now beginning presentation. Says this is product of negotiations with Gov. Says party always opposed Protocol. 4/ 
Meeting now halted. Anger that meeting is being live tweeted. 5/
DUP meeting descends into mayhem. JD saying texts being sent to Jamie Bryson who is giving a blow by blow account to the meeting 6/ 
MAYHEM in party Exec meeting. One DUP delegate accuses PSNI officers of being the leak. 7/ 
JD defends police officers says "they are not messaging Jamie Bryson" 8/ 
JD resuming presentation. DUP enforcers now looking around the rooms. 9/ 
JD says in response to Windsor Framework DUP consulted. Unlike any other party. Name checks Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster 10/ 
JD now discussing seven tests "designed to be the measure against which DUP would discuss any future arrangements" 11/ 
JD says tests being misrepresented- now trying to escape from restoring the Acts of Union. Trying to explain away why his deal doesn't restore the Acts of Union. First sign of DUP backing off 12/ 
JD now saying legislation will affirm sovereignty! What? 13/ 
JD says two pieces of constitutional legislation, including amending UK internal market act 14/ 
Says legislation "restores Parliamentary sovereignty" and reaffirms NI place in the Union; says offers NEW protections on Acts of Union - clearly therefore Acts of Union not restored 15/
JD 'constitutional legislation' sounds like utter waffle 16/ 
Party Chairman orders 'PHONES OFF' 17/ 
Continuing with presentation 18/ 
DUP meeting now halted. Fury and mayhem 19/ 
JD says PSNI brought in to try and block phone signals 20/ 
JD says effort to block phone signals hasn't stopped the reporting from the meeting. 21/ 
JD says there will still be checks and declarations on green lane. 22/
JD still discussing legislation. Talking about reduction in checks. 23/
DUP meeting is utter chaos and mayhem 24/

[Brendan]

God its all so hilarious. How long can Donaldson go on as leader with no authority

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

This is by far the worst example of party leadership I've ever seen. They can't stop someone in the meeting live tweeting? Surely they'd have had the foresight not to let anyone in with their phone.

If Jim McGuinness could do it before the Dubs game surely JD should have done it tonight!

Someone is wearing a wire I'd say.

[marty34]

Seems to be a farce....but pretty enjoyable.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

This is by far the worst example of party leadership I've ever seen. They can't stop someone in the meeting live tweeting? Surely they'd have had the foresight not to let anyone in with their phone.

If Jim McGuinness could do it before the Dubs game surely JD should have done it tonight!

Someone is wearing a wire I'd say.

Or someone just phoned Bryson before they went in and left their phone on in their pocket. The whole thing is hilarious. Donaldsons reputation in tatters. Karma bites 25 years later for the snake

[Tony Baloney]

Cnuts and all that they are they should be allowed to get on with party business without that wee rat reporting their proceedings.