It Must be Marching Season

[Walter Cronc]

Gregory and Sammy very quiet this past few days. Gregory probably knows the consequences in Derry where locals can easily stop the ABOD parade. Another man very quiet has been Lyons. Just shows you how splintered the DUP are.

[imtommygunn]

They haven't been seen since the Donaldson thing I thought?

[Walter Cronc]

They haven't been seen since the Donaldson thing I thought?

True. Lyons quiet though.

[gallsman]

There was mention of "finishing the 1998 Parade" on a quick survey of FB.

That has been the line the whole time.

[tonto1888]

MON should have stayed away and left it to locals to represent themselves. We all know whose side she is on - but she has lost credibility selling herself as a First Minister for all.
As said here earlier the DUP have got their siege mentality vote back from this and it's a perfect distraction from the Robinson disgrace.

Meanwhile the rest of the world (we just probably Ireland and the UK) looks and shrugs its shoulders at the stupidity of the situation.

She tried, kept quiet when the DUP were at their work in various departments but there was no reciprocation whatsoever from Unionism and with this she very much needed to stand strong with the people on the Garvaghy Road and show the SF voting base that they were no longer patsies.

Stay in Stormont and go after Givan and Co for every single move they make that isn't justifiable by their own policies and procedures.

I dont have much truck with SF or MON but she was superb over the weekend. Fair play. It was good to see so many politicians coming together. Questions to be asked of those who werent there

[Armagh18]

MON should have stayed away and left it to locals to represent themselves. We all know whose side she is on - but she has lost credibility selling herself as a First Minister for all.
As said here earlier the DUP have got their siege mentality vote back from this and it's a perfect distraction from the Robinson disgrace.

Meanwhile the rest of the world (we just probably Ireland and the UK) looks and shrugs its shoulders at the stupidity of the situation.

She tried, kept quiet when the DUP were at their work in various departments but there was no reciprocation whatsoever from Unionism and with this she very much needed to stand strong with the people on the Garvaghy Road and show the SF voting base that they were no longer patsies.

Stay in Stormont and go after Givan and Co for every single move they make that isn't justifiable by their own policies and procedures.

I dont have much truck with SF or MON but she was superb over the weekend. Fair play. It was good to see so many politicians coming together. Questions to be asked of those who werent there

Just Alliance was it? Other parties all on the ground from what I saw

[tonto1888]

Someone needs to pressure Lockhart on what she is suggesting when she says "profound" consequences. Is that a threat? Who is she threatening on behalf of?

The orange order complaining about a lack of policing plan. They had two days. Also what they probably mean is why weren't the dirty Fenians beat off the road.

she is my MP. Prob be a waste of time but is there a way to make a complaint about her behaviour over the last few days? She clearly isnt representing the constituents equally.

[tonto1888]

MON should have stayed away and left it to locals to represent themselves. We all know whose side she is on - but she has lost credibility selling herself as a First Minister for all.
As said here earlier the DUP have got their siege mentality vote back from this and it's a perfect distraction from the Robinson disgrace.

Meanwhile the rest of the world (we just probably Ireland and the UK) looks and shrugs its shoulders at the stupidity of the situation.

She tried, kept quiet when the DUP were at their work in various departments but there was no reciprocation whatsoever from Unionism and with this she very much needed to stand strong with the people on the Garvaghy Road and show the SF voting base that they were no longer patsies.

Stay in Stormont and go after Givan and Co for every single move they make that isn't justifiable by their own policies and procedures.

I dont have much truck with SF or MON but she was superb over the weekend. Fair play. It was good to see so many politicians coming together. Questions to be asked of those who werent there

Just Alliance was it? Other parties all on the ground from what I saw

Yeah

[tonto1888]

.
The Lodge have called for senior police resignations.

This idea needs to be resisted and beaten back publicly and loudly by nationalist politicians.

The bastards are trying to come out and demand that the role of the cops be to enforce every legal decision, regardless of consequences. That they go in all guns blazing so to speak. Of course, it only matters to them when there's a ruling in their favour. When it comes to bonfires, flags etc, they've no interest in the rule of law or having the police enforce it whatsoever.

There is obviously going to be anger on both sides at the PSNI for differing reasons, but the fact they didn't try to force the march through and batter the residents and protestors off the street was clearly the "right" decision. At least we've progressed that much in 30 years.

was thinking this earlier. I had images of the marches in the 90s in my mind too

[gallsman]

She also very calculatedly and repeatedly referred to it as a sectarian march. That's the kind of thing that will outrage the gammon fucks but is how nationalism simply has to, rightly, frame all of this.

The OO and political unionism cannot be allowed paint a wider picture of it simply being about 1 or 35 or 100 lads harmlessly and silently going about their business, causing offence to nobody. Their existence as an organisation is sectarianism and offensive.

[Armagh18]

Someone needs to pressure Lockhart on what she is suggesting when she says "profound" consequences. Is that a threat? Who is she threatening on behalf of?

The orange order complaining about a lack of policing plan. They had two days. Also what they probably mean is why weren't the dirty Fenians beat off the road.

she is my MP. Prob be a waste of time but is there a way to make a complaint about her behaviour over the last few days? She clearly isnt representing the constituents equally.

https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/

[GTP]

The only long term benefit that I can see for unionism is that they can use this as an example of how reconciliation within N Ireland has not been achieved and therefore there cannot be a border pole. Whilst reconciliation is not mentioned in the GFA it does get mentioned every so often by people who should know better as being a condition for a border poll and unification.
That reconciliation is mentioned as a prerequisite is perhaps the greatest incentive for any unionist to ensure it does not happen.

Could it not be argued that as long as NI exists we cannot have reconciliation, only in  a united/new Ireland will it be possible.

You could spin it that the OO aren't being treated equally by the British state so should join a free Ireland where they can march anywhere they want. But it feels like another grandstanding performance to show how put upon they are as a minority in their own country and that it would definitely be worse in a united Ireland.
I wonder do any of the 35 members of the OO ever take a walk up the Garvaghy Road when not in uniform.

[gallsman]

The orange order complaining about a lack of policing plan. They had two days. Also what they probably mean is why weren't the dirty Fenians beat off the road.

That is clearly what they mean. There was a policing plan in place that thankfully avoided, as far as I can tell, any violence, threat of violence or injury. This should be the foremost objective of any operation, so you could easily argue they both planned and executed it exceptionally, especially in light of the rising temperatures on both sides.

What they want is heads on a stake for not forcing the march through. Forget about disorder or baton charges or plastic bullets or hospital visits. That's all irrelevant to these fucks as long as they get to walk their banner down the road.

[AustinPowers]

The only long term benefit that I can see for unionism is that they can use this as an example of how reconciliation within N Ireland has not been achieved and therefore there cannot be a border pole. Whilst reconciliation is not mentioned in the GFA it does get mentioned every so often by people who should know better as being a condition for a border poll and unification.
That reconciliation is mentioned as a prerequisite is perhaps the greatest incentive for any unionist to ensure it does not happen.

Could it not be argued that as long as NI exists we cannot have reconciliation, only in  a united/new Ireland will it be possible.

You could spin it that the OO aren't being treated equally by the British state so should join a free Ireland where they can march anywhere they want. But it feels like another grandstanding performance to show how put upon they are as a minority in their own country and that it would definitely be worse in a united Ireland.
I wonder do any of the 35 members of the OO ever take a walk up the Garvaghy Road when not in uniform.

You could look at it  this way. Stormont have been begging Westminster for more  money . No doubt the  bill  for this will be in the millions.  How does that help unionists cause to remain in  the precious union? 

When will the penny drop for the British  government and the ordinary British people... We're handing out more  and more money to you , and this is what  you're spending it on?!

[Armagh18]

The only long term benefit that I can see for unionism is that they can use this as an example of how reconciliation within N Ireland has not been achieved and therefore there cannot be a border pole. Whilst reconciliation is not mentioned in the GFA it does get mentioned every so often by people who should know better as being a condition for a border poll and unification.
That reconciliation is mentioned as a prerequisite is perhaps the greatest incentive for any unionist to ensure it does not happen.

Could it not be argued that as long as NI exists we cannot have reconciliation, only in  a united/new Ireland will it be possible.

You could spin it that the OO aren't being treated equally by the British state so should join a free Ireland where they can march anywhere they want. But it feels like another grandstanding performance to show how put upon they are as a minority in their own country and that it would definitely be worse in a united Ireland.
I wonder do any of the 35 members of the OO ever take a walk up the Garvaghy Road when not in uniform.

Yeah that should be put to them and see what the come back with lol