Westminster Election 12th December 2019

[Clinker]

Major psychological win for Unionism in the Athletic Grounds tonight.

[6th sam]

The DUP will not be running a candidate in FST

No different from 2017 and SF still won the seat.

Edit: Tom Elliott, whom Arlene endorsed in a tweet today, has said he has not yet even expressed an interest in running.

It's time for moderate unionists to step up. Arlene has basically endorsed Tom who hasn't even been selected yet. It's a transparent attempt by the patronising DUP to tell UUP what to do. UUP have bowed to this pressure over the years and even watched the DUP poach some of their most eminent politicians , they have been ridiculed by DUP over several years. Is Aitken the man to finally stand up for moderate unionism against the selfish, backward and corrupt DUP?

Much as I would like agreed non abstentionist MPs returned in all possible constituencies to fight against brexit in parliament, an election pact on the remain side won't happen for some of these reasons:
1. Too late for it to happen
2. Not the best way of maximising the pro-remain vote across the North
3. Not possible for SDLP because of pressure from FF, Alliance because they have spent nearly 50 years "non-aligned" and won't want to be branded as nationalist now , and SF voters won't like standing aside for SDLP who have been openly antagonist to them for years .
4. Will motivate some moderate unionists who will vote against a "pan nationalist front" -DUP will be happy to exploit that
5. A desire for parties to engage in real politics and give voters choice
6. Fear of it backfiring and causing the demise of weaker parties.

The best option for all in the North is for parties to decide where they are going to stand with pro remain choices in all constituencies. In marginal seats the hope is that remainers and the 75% of the population who despise the DUP , vote tactically. This will give a massive pro remain headcount , potentially unseat 3 DUP MPs and potentially send 4 fresh remainers to Westminster.
Are pro-remain parties mature enough and unselfish enough to drive the boot into the DUP for the benefit of all , or will they continue to drive the boot into each other ,to the benefit of the DUP.
The GFA happened as a result of the likes of Hume putting the electorate before his party's interest, and it successfully put an end to bloodshed , by isolating unreasonable unionism . The same needs to happen again

[JPGJOHNNYG]

UUP have pulled out of North Belfast. Good to see UDA intimidation still works FFS. Aiken and the UUP are an absolute joke and are finished now if anyone was in any doubt

[marty34]

UUP have pulled out of North Belfast. Good to see UDA intimidation still works FFS. Aiken and the UUP are an absolute joke and are finished now if anyone was in any doubt

No surprise there.  Everybody saw that coming.

Unionists will have 1 party to vote for from now on - the DUP.

Very disappointing that Pro EU parties won't get their act together but not unexpected - too many big egoes.

Nationalists have turned soft I think - too many softies amongst the ranks.  Look at how many nationalist s James McClean excluded, don't wear a poppy on tv? Too worried about their career!  As I say - softies.

[playwiththewind1st]

Ulster Unionist general election 2019, thus far.
"Of course we will be running 18 candidates".
"I'm not saying whether or not we are running 18 candidates".
"We aren't running in North Belfast".
Welcome to the exciting world of Submarine Steve. He will not even last the current average of roughly a couple of years per UU leader, if he keeps this up (and he isn't even in post yet). The stupider the UU leadership manages to be, it probably convinces the average PUL dupe that Snarlene is wonderful, by comparison.

[Rossfan]

They should do the dacent thing and disband.

[seafoid]

John Finucane must have the potential to lead SF in the future

https://twitter.com/johnfinucane/status/1189659594420822018

[Rois]

Same as FST and the DUP, the UUP haven't run in North Belfast in at least the last two general elections. So it doesn't extend Dodds's lead.
Still waiting to hear from SDLP, whose constituency meeting in N Belfast was yesterday morning.

[smelmoth]

Predictable but saddening couple of days in NI politics.

Aiken isn't a bad lad but let's face it he has caved in here. Political outright unionism definitely has no place for anyone who is pro EU or pro a civilised settlement in NI. No gain for Alliance in FST or in North Belfast but they must be rubbing their hands for other constituencies namely East and possibly South Belfast this time and more generally across NI in future PR elections

[red hander]

Steve 'Yellow Submarine' Aiken. Leadership a complete and utter failure before it's even begun. Final nail in coffin of party that led apartheid regime here from 1921 to 1972.

[marty34]

Steve 'Yellow Submarine' Aiken. Leadership a complete and utter failure before it's even begun. Final nail in coffin of party that led apartheid regime here from 1921 to 1972.

In fairness, who is surprised by this cave in?

I, for one, am not.

[Rois]

SDLP not standing in N Belfast, not in East or North Down. Smart decision, SF likely to reciprocate in South Belfast. SF need to play a smart campaign in NB now and go full on anti-DUP.

[armaghniac]

Anti-DUP sounds a bit like themmuns. Pro GFA would be a stronger suit.

[Eamonnca1]

SDLP not standing in N Belfast, not in East or North Down. Smart decision, SF likely to reciprocate in South Belfast. SF need to play a smart campaign in NB now and go full on anti-DUP.

Are they?

[6th sam]

Anti-DUP sounds a bit like themmuns. Pro GFA would be a stronger suit.

No harm to you , but lazily categorising anti-DUP as being against themmums is insulting. I'm anti-sectarian but strongly anti DUP.
I have no issue with "themmums" if you mean Protestants, British, unionists. I actually like, admire and respect many with those ideals and I share many of their concerns. However the DUP as a party have consistently shown themselves to be ungenerous, bigoted , triumphalist, discriminatory and corrupt. In Ian paisley and Peter Robinson they had leaders so greedy for power that they reluctantly engaged to power share and bit their tongue for the glory of the first minister accolade. Arlene is so anti-Irish she can't even do that. The DUP need hammered and exposed . Hopefully other unionists will emerge to argue a very worthy cause, but that won't be easy given the apparent UDA threat when UUP muted challenging the DUP in NB. Perhaps a leader will emerge from
The middle ground to unite the population here and Tbf Naomi Long looks well placed. We've all had to endure this nonsense for too long, going right back to Paisley's sectarian role in stoking the conflict .  Let's move these dinosaurs aside and finally move towards a normal society .