Tory Eurosceptics – Sinn Fein’s new best friends

[The Hill is Blue]

I notice that the leader of the devolved assembly in Scotland has criticised David Cameron for his bull-headed performance at the EU leaders meeting believing that it will be against Scotland's best interests. However, it is interesting to note that the only dissenting voice in Northern Ireland has been that of Alex Attwood of the SDLP. Not a word from Martin McGuinness. Sinn Fein's new best friends are the Tory Eurosceptics. The leaders of the 1916 rising referred to "gallant allies in Europe" Will Sinn Fein now be talking about "gallant allies in Westminster"? Ironic or what? 

[rossie mad]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

[mylestheslasher]

What an idiotic post. Even people who are polar opposites can have something in common you know. You think because sf disagree with the Tories on 90% of things they should intentionally disagree on the other 10% for consistency?

[Nally Stand]

.....it is interesting to note that the only dissenting voice in Northern Ireland has been that of Alex Attwood of the SDLP........ The leaders of the 1916 rising referred to "gallant allies in Europe" Will Sinn Fein now be talking about "gallant allies in Westminster"?.....

Come back to us when Alex Attwood starts quoting the men of 1916, and you might be taken a bit more seriously

[Ulick]

I notice that the leader of the devolved assembly in Scotland has criticised David Cameron for his bull-headed performance at the EU leaders meeting believing that it will be against Scotland's best interests. However, it is interesting to note that the only dissenting voice in Northern Ireland has been that of Alex Attwood of the SDLP. Not a word from Martin McGuinness. Sinn Fein's new best friends are the Tory Eurosceptics. The leaders of the 1916 rising referred to "gallant allies in Europe" Will Sinn Fein now be talking about "gallant allies in Westminster"? Ironic or what? 

"gallant allies in Europe"...

France's Francois Hollande: Would seek to rework euro zone deal
PARIS: French presidential favourite Francois Hollande said on Monday that if elected next year he would seek to renegotiate the deal agreed at a summit last week in response to the debt crisis in the euro zone.

"This accord is not the right answer," said Hollande. "If I am elected president, I will negotiate, renegotiate this accord," he said in an interview on RTL radio.

He said the accord was all about austerity but should have allowed for a bigger European Central Bank role and issuance of common government bonds in the euro zone.

Socialist Hollande leads in opinion polls of vote intentions ahead of a presidential election to take place in two rounds next April 22 and May 6.

European leaders agreed at a summit in Brussels on Friday to draft a new treaty for deeper economic integration in the euro zone, notably with a view to imposing tougher budget discipline via automatic sanctions for deficit overshooters in the single currency area

"Without economic growth we will achieve none of the targets on deficit reduction," said Hollande, who said the accord was both insufficient as a short-term answer and long-term solution.

President Nicolas Sarkozy, one of the main instigators of the European summit accord, has yet to declare his intentions in next year's French ballot but he is widely expected to seek re-election and face Hollande in the second round of a contest that opinion polls currently suggest Hollande would win comfortably.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Personally I think a United Ireland is more likely if the U.K. and Ireland are both states in a United States of Europe, Ireland would be unified because it makes geographic sense.

SF and the Conservatives attitude to Europe has always disgusted me. Little Irelanders and Little Englanders at their very worst.

[The Hill is Blue]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Sinn Fein has found itself alongside many strange bedfellows in its anti-EU tendency. Fundamentalist Catholics, xenophobic European right-wingers and now Tory Eurosceptics (who tend to be the most anti-Irish element of the Conservative Party).

The alternative to a full engagement by Ireland in the EU is a return to the pre-1973 situation when to all intents and purposes we were economically a region of the UK (but without any influence in framing UK economic policy). If Britain (and Sinn Fein) was to have its way and the EU were fatally undermined then Ireland would once again be sucked into the British sphere of influence. If that were to happen, we would be better off re-entering the UK.

Now that would be some victory for Sinn Fein as we approach the centenary of the Rising.

[Ulick]

Sinn Fein has found itself alongside many strange bedfellows in its anti-EU tendency. Fundamentalist Catholics, xenophobic European right-wingers and now Tory Eurosceptics (who tend to be the most anti-Irish element of the Conservative Party).

The alternative to a full engagement by Ireland in the EU is a return to the pre-1973 situation when to all intents and purposes we were economically a region of the UK (but without any influence in framing UK economic policy). If Britain (and Sinn Fein) was to have its way and the EU were fatally undermined then Ireland would once again be sucked into the British sphere of influence. If that were to happen, we would be better off re-entering the UK.

Now that would be some victory for Sinn Fein as we approach the centenary of the Rising.

Load of bollocks. It seems you would prefer to hand the keys over to someone else because they're not the Brits. Some victory that would be on the centenary of the Rising.

[fearglasmor]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Sinn Fein has found itself alongside many strange bedfellows in its anti-EU tendency. Fundamentalist Catholics, xenophobic European right-wingers and now Tory Eurosceptics (who tend to be the most anti-Irish element of the Conservative Party).

The alternative to a full engagement by Ireland in the EU is a return to the pre-1973 situation when to all intents and purposes we were economically a region of the UK (but without any influence in framing UK economic policy). If Britain (and Sinn Fein) was to have its way and the EU were fatally undermined then Ireland would once again be sucked into the British sphere of influence. If that were to happen, we would be better off re-entering the UK.

Now that would be some victory for Sinn Fein as we approach the centenary of the Rising.

I'm not sure I see any difference between being an economic region of the UK and an economic region of the Germanic/Franco Alliance except that we have a lot more in common with our UK neighbours.

Neither is an independent sovereign state.  Is there not a third option ?

[Rossfan]

[I'm not sure I see any difference between being an economic region of the UK and an economic region of the Germanic/Franco Alliance except that we have a lot more in common with our UK neighbours.

Neither is an independent sovereign state.  Is there not a third option ?

Yes ... 1847 

[magpie seanie]

Personally I think a United Ireland is more likely if the U.K. and Ireland are both states in a United States of Europe, Ireland would be unified because it makes geographic sense.

SF and the Conservatives attitude to Europe has always disgusted me. Little Irelanders and Little Englanders at their very worst.

How can you be a united country within a country?

[The Hill is Blue]

I've just heard Nigel Dodds congratulate Cameron on behalf of the "people of Northern Ireland". Where does Martin stand on this? 

[muppet]

Personally I think a United Ireland is more likely if the U.K. and Ireland are both states in a United States of Europe, Ireland would be unified because it makes geographic sense.

SF and the Conservatives attitude to Europe has always disgusted me. Little Irelanders and Little Englanders at their very worst.

West Kraut.

[The Hill is Blue]

A little ditty for Martin, Peter and Nigel

Whack Fol The Diddle

Peadar Kearney

I'll sing you a song of peace and love
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
To the land that reigns all lands above
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
May peace and plenty be her share
Who kept our homes from want and care
Ah, but God bless England did our prayer
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day

Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
So we say "Hip Hooray!"
Come and listen while we pray
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day

When we were savage fierce and wild
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
She came like a mother to her child
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
Gently raised us from the slime
Kept our hands from hellish crime
And sent us to Heaven in her own good time
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day

Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
So we say "Hip Hooray!"
Come and listen while we pray
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day

Our fathers oft were naughty boys
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
For pikes and guns are dangerous toys
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day
From Bearna Baol to Peter's Hill
We made poor England weep her fill
Ah, but ould Brittania she loved us still
Whack fol the diddle fol the di dol day

[Maguire01]

Personally I think a United Ireland is more likely if the U.K. and Ireland are both states in a United States of Europe, Ireland would be unified because it makes geographic sense.

SF and the Conservatives attitude to Europe has always disgusted me. Little Irelanders and Little Englanders at their very worst.

How can you be a united country within a country?

You would be united because you're not partitioned. You just wouldn't be independent.