Mr & Mrs Robinson

[Celt_Man]

Lads could I just urge the utmost caution with regards to posts on this forum topic. The board has been referenced on Slugger and possibly other sites and we no doubt now have many prying eyes!

What's that now??

[Trevor Hill]

If the Robinsongate scandal had happened in the rest of the UK or down south the opposition would have been sharpening the knives and calling for resignations. The sad fact of the matter is that the politicians in the north have too much to hide and are afraid of rocking the boat. Where is Adams and McGuinness this morning? Why aren't they putting the boot in to the enemy? Are they in Dundalk having lunch in the creche in Muirhevna Mor with Liam Adams? Where is the SDLP leadership this morning? Surely they should be making hay while the sun shines? Not a word, they are simply hoping that if they sit and say nothing some of this mud will stick to the two main parties and they will come out smelling of roses. Likewise with the Ulster Unionists, God knows what skeletons are hidden in their closets, they`ll be sitting down to lunch with the SDLP, hoping to gain from this while not doing anything to rock the boat.
At one stage the republican movement tried to make the north ungovernable, they failed but they along with their cronies in the other three main parties have left it leaderless.

[orangeman]

Mark Durkan was on Nolan this mrning and has put on his Twitter account that he thinks it's over for Peter Robinson.


Gerry Kelly was on Nolan demanding a meeting with the DUP to see what else is out there and for an enquiry into all of this -


UUP have been silent.



Jim Allister was on as well - he was quietly revelling in it.

[glens abu]

Reg was also on this morning calling for Peter to go,Trevor do you listen to the radio?

[Trevor Hill]

Mark Durkan was on Nolan this mrning and has put on his Twitter account that he thinks it's over for Peter Robinson.

The Robinsons will have to go now, its on Twitter after all.  They should be putting the boot in, this could do irreparable damage to the DUP never mind the Robinsons.

[Lecale2]

If the Robinsongate scandal had happened in the rest of the UK or down south the opposition would have been sharpening the knives and calling for resignations.

There is a big difference between the North and other jurisdictions when it comes to politics. In Britain the Tories will kick Labour because they will take over in Government if Labour fall apart. The same goes for Fine Gael/FF in the Free State.

In the North DUP will still be in Government after any election and only Jim Allister's TUV will gain politically. There's no real incentive for SF/SDLP to force them out.

[delboy]

At least this will spell the end for iris in the strangford constituency, hopefully it'll be retaken by the UUP, its always been a source of chagrin for me to have the DUP in the seat rather than the more moderate UUP.

[Zapatista]

If the Robinsongate scandal had happened in the rest of the UK or down south the opposition would have been sharpening the knives and calling for resignations. The sad fact of the matter is that the politicians in the north have too much to hide and are afraid of rocking the boat. Where is Adams and McGuinness this morning? Why aren't they putting the boot in to the enemy? Are they in Dundalk having lunch in the creche in Muirhevna Mor with Liam Adams? Where is the SDLP leadership this morning? Surely they should be making hay while the sun shines? Not a word, they are simply hoping that if they sit and say nothing some of this mud will stick to the two main parties and they will come out smelling of roses. Likewise with the Ulster Unionists, God knows what skeletons are hidden in their closets, they`ll be sitting down to lunch with the SDLP, hoping to gain from this while not doing anything to rock the boat.
At one stage the republican movement tried to make the north ungovernable, they failed but they along with their cronies in the other three main parties have left it leaderless.

The two systems can't be compared. The SDLP, SF & the UUP are not in opposition to the DUP they are sharing power. In the South you have a Government and a opposition. In the North all four parties mentioned are in Government. It's a different set up and always has been. There is nothing the SDLP or SF can gain from attacking the DUP re this issue. The Unionist electorate and public pressure is the only than can effect the DUP on this issue. What would be the point in attacking them? Other than call for an investigation or an inquiry the is little else point in the SDLP of SF taking advantage. In fact there is no advantage to take.

DO you honestly believe Direct Rule was better???

[Trevor Hill]

If the Robinsongate scandal had happened in the rest of the UK or down south the opposition would have been sharpening the knives and calling for resignations.

There is a big difference between the North and other jurisdictions when it comes to politics. In Britain the Tories will kick Labour because they will take over in Government if Labour fall apart. The same goes for Fine Gael/FF in the Free State.

In the North DUP will still be in Government after any election and only Jim Allister's TUV will gain politically. There's no real incentive for SF/SDLP to force them out.

Something badly wrong with the political system. They are all sitting comfortably and don't really have to worry about their jobs, even if their wives have been doing the dirt behind their backs and taking donations from developers to get her toyboy a new business. The Robinsons seem to have a lot of questions to answer after last nights programmes, especially on their relationships with certain developers. It seems that if you want to build in Castlereagh you just had to Give Iris a donation. 

[Trevor Hill]

Lads could I just urge the utmost caution with regards to posts on this forum topic. The board has been referenced on Slugger and possibly other sites and we no doubt now have many prying eyes!

what has been said over there about this site?

http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/robinson-on-spotlight-live-blog/P50/

[Zapatista]

Something badly wrong with the political system. They are all sitting comfortably and don't really have to worry about their jobs, even if their wives have been doing the dirt behind their backs and taking donations from developers to get her toyboy a new business. The Robinsons seem to have a lot of questions to answer after last nights programmes, especially on their relationships with certain developers. It seems that if you want to build in Castlereagh you just had to Give Iris a donation. 

That's feck all to do with the system. If a politican is corrupt then they are corrupt. If the north had the same system as the south the DUP would still be the largest party and probably be in Government with the UUP. Iris would proably have been a minister. The current system is better for the north.

[orangeman]

To be fair, Durkin did put the boot in a bit - he talked about how Castlereagh council was held up as the best example of the DUP at their work - he said if this was the benchmark, then God help us all.

[Trevor Hill]

The current system is better for the north.

The current system means they can do what they like without any comebacks. There is no real opposition, they are all in it together. Ony in NI would you get a system like that. It is not real world politics.

[theskull1]

If the Robinsongate scandal had happened in the rest of the UK or down south the opposition would have been sharpening the knives and calling for resignations.

There is a big difference between the North and other jurisdictions when it comes to politics. In Britain the Tories will kick Labour because they will take over in Government if Labour fall apart. The same goes for Fine Gael/FF in the Free State.

In the North DUP will still be in Government after any election and only Jim Allister's TUV will gain politically. There's no real incentive for SF/SDLP to force them out.

Something badly wrong with the political system. They are all sitting comfortably and don't really have to worry about their jobs, even if their wives have been doing the dirt behind their backs and taking donations from developers to get her toyboy a new business. The Robinsons seem to have a lot of questions to answer after last nights programmes, especially on their relationships with certain developers. It seems that if you want to build in Castlereagh you just had to Give Iris a donation. 

A very valid point. Lets see just how interested and energetic our politicians are when it comes to dealing with all the fall out issues that this scandal has exposed especially in relation to public representatives relationships with developers. This is the real story AFAIK.

[Zapatista]

The current system means they can do what they like without any comebacks. There is no real opposition, they are all in it together. Ony in NI would you get a system like that. It is not real world politics.

Yip you're right

FF have been in power for 15 years FFS and FG in opposition for the same. Look how that worked out for the people.