The DUP thread

[Wildweasel74]

What work are they doing as a MP that a MLA cant do or is covering here, please explain?They only reason they contest, is that they do not want the SDLP get a future footing, no other reason.

[Munchie]

Bet they take the crowns money!

Dont they pay taxes to that Crown?

Under the occupied 6, anyone working here is legally obliged to do so, what's your point?

[Tony Baloney]

Or what Mickey Brady done?

Collected wages and expenses.

[Armagh18]

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/education-department-silent-on-potential-for-future-trips-to-israel-by-dup-minister/a391537096.html?fbclid=IwZnRzaAOBHIRleHRuA2FlbQExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7z8sS2JCuKTVaVVq7JennqvDLgt-ol66jbVWUsO9uOLgwlq8L0HEGyYtlaeQ_aem_8qnBStont36oA9OZ38Gsgw#dbxp8ennb1r2vz6j55oe7yumenv8v5vf

Arrogant bastards

[Munchie]

Mandate to do what they want, a political system where they or any MLA can't be held to account, as someone else said, place is a shithole.

[Dougal Maguire]

Or what Mickey Brady done?

Collected wages and expenses.

In fairness Mickey Brady did immense work for his constituents and still does even though he's retired. As a former welfare rights worker he's kept very busy around Newry. He might not maintain a high public profile but he's highly regarded by the people of Newry and the wider area

[Munchie]

Yeah he was a real grafter the people of Armagh whom he represented and forever in his debt for hard work and representation.

[Armagh18]

Or what Mickey Brady done?

Collected wages and expenses.

In fairness Mickey Brady did immense work for his constituents and still does even though he's retired. As a former welfare rights worker he's kept very busy around Newry. He might not maintain a high public profile but he's highly regarded by the people of Newry and the wider area

100%. And Daire Hughes seems like a decent skin as well.

[Rossfan]

I cant see the Article but the headline sums them up perfectly

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/suzanne-breen/the-dups-days-of-gesture-politics-are-over-its-only-focus-is-stopping-jim-allister/a340039769.html

[brokencrossbar1]

I cant see the Article but the headline sums them up perfectly

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/suzanne-breen/the-dups-days-of-gesture-politics-are-over-its-only-focus-is-stopping-jim-allister/a340039769.html

There are more than 150 DUP elected representatives in Northern Ireland, but apparently not one of them was free to attend the Irish president's inauguration.
Emma Little-Pengelly has said she couldn't go due to Remembrance Day commitments. Gavin Robinson cited a similar reason, and stressed "the significance of the 11th day of the 11th month" for his community.

Yet Peter Robinson managed to join Martin McGuinness for the inauguration of Michael D Higgins on November 11 2011.

While the date of the Irish president's swearing in hasn't changed, DUP attitudes to gestures of reconciliation clearly have. The 'calendar clash' excuse is an attempt to spin a snub.

Catherine Connolly has pledged that her first official visit will be to Northern Ireland. Robinson said his party would be "pleased" to meet her in a formal capacity when she comes here.

That doesn't involve stretching itself in the way that leaving its home turf and travelling to Dublin would have done.

In February, Michelle O'Neill joined Little-Pengelly, the Prime Minister and the leaders of the Scottish and Welsh devolved administrations for a private dinner with King Charles at Windsor Castle.

O'Neill has attended two Remembrance Sunday services, the Queen's funeral and the King's coronation. She stood for 'God Save the King' at Windsor Park last year during a Northern Ireland women's football match against Montenegro.

It is impossible to imagine any DUP figure standing for Amhrán na bhFiann here. The party is in retreat mode on the gesture front.

It's in a very different place compared to when devolution was restored in February 2024. The days of ceili dancing and camogie playing are gone.

In the first Assembly meeting after power-sharing returned, newly appointed Education Minister Paul Givan branded Jim Allister "a dead-end unionist".

by
"He is an angry man, and I can understand why," Givan said. "He has achieved absolutely nothing. I understand why he is angry and shouting at me because his political career has been one marked with failure."

Five months later Allister was elected North Antrim MP. In LucidTalk's last opinion poll for the Belfast Telegraph last month, the TUV was in third place on 13% – just five points behind the DUP.

Robinson's party has moved significantly to the right in an attempt to win back support. TUV had already warned its bigger rival that "there should be no question" of Little-Pengelly attending the inauguration.

Allister said: "For a unionist to meekly troop down to Dublin to attend such an inauguration would send entirely the wrong message.

"Unionists should be standing firm for the Union — not lending legitimacy to those who would see it destroyed and show no respect for our constitutional place as part of the United Kingdom."

Tweeting from Dublin Castle, O'Neill said it was a "a great privilege to represent you all as First Minister at the inauguration of our new President, Catherine Connolly".

She described Connolly as "a leader of compassion and courage who will represent everyone who calls this island home, with integrity and sincerity".

The First Minister added: "I look forward to working alongside Catherine in this time of change and massive potential on our island, as we continue our journey towards a fairer, stronger, and united Ireland."

Connolly pledged to ensure "all voices are represented, heard and valued" as she became the 10th president of Ireland.

She said: "The people have spoken and have given their president a powerful mandate to articulate their vision for a new republic, a republic worthy of its name where everyone is valued and diversity is cherished, where sustainable solutions are urgently implemented, and where a home is a fundamental human right."

The president added: "The change that led to this joyful day began with the small group of elected representatives and volunteers facing what appeared to be insurmountable challenges.

"We were led to believe that it was too great a leap, that our ideas were too far out, too left – at odds with the prevailing narrative."

She stated that Ireland's history meant "the normalisation of war and genocide has never been and will never be acceptable to us".

The president said: "As a sovereign independent nation with the long and cherished tradition of neutrality and an uninterrupted record of peacekeeping since 1958, Ireland is particularly well-placed to lead and articulate alternative diplomatic solutions to conflict and war.

"Indeed, our experience of colonisation and resistance of a catastrophic man-made famine and forced immigration gives us a lived understanding of dispossession, hunger and war and a mandate for Ireland to lead

Connolly said Ireland could take "real pride in the success" of the Good Friday Agreement as a "model for the peaceful resolution of conflict".

She looked forward to her "first official visit to the north", and referenced Article 3 of the constitution which sets out the firm wish of the Irish people for a united Ireland by consent.

[Armagh18]

As tough as it is to swallow a Sinn Fein leader doing those things- it is proper leadership and the only way forward.

Compare it to the knuckle draggers in the DUP and theres only one side trying to be grown up and work towards a proper shared future here.

 To be fair I wouldn't begrudge Pengelly not attending, the remembrance day is probably a fair enough reason, but the DUP should have sent representation. The DUP will get caught in the middle trying to pander to the old bitter bastard Unionist vote which will only dwindle away in the coming years, while the half way sensible protestant/unionist will be more and more attracted to Alliance and maybe the UUP.

[Rossfan]

Only 1 side trying to be grown up alright.
DUPUDA certainly doing no harm to the UI camp by their chasing the extremist vote.

[Armagh18]

Only 1 side trying to be grown up alright.
DUPUDA certainly doing no harm to the UI camp by their chasing the extremist vote.

Said it during the Brexit talks- we'll be building statues of Arelene and Co in Cross when a United Ireland does happen

[Brendan]

Gordon Lyon's trying to sell Belfast hosting the Euro 2028 draw as a win after the city losing out on hosting actual matches, embarrassed for him 

[lurganblue]

Gordon Lyon's trying to sell Belfast hosting the Euro 2028 draw as a win after the city losing out on hosting actual matches, embarrassed for him 

Shambles. They continue to be a complete embarrassment to themselves and their voters.