Thane of Cawdor
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Posts posted by Thane of Cawdor
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6 hours ago, Bohemian said:
No leftie government by the looks of it.
Sinn Féin’s attempts to pull together a government that excludes Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have begun to stutter, with smaller parties expressing scepticism such a coalition can be put together.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald would need to bring most of the 20 Independents in the new Dáil into government, as well as the Green Party, People Before Profit-Solidarity, Labour and the Social Democrats, to command a majority.
Several Independents have indicated a willingness to serve in government provided their demands are met.
It comes as Micheál Martin began to make contact with the leaders of the smaller parties yesterday, and a Fianna Fáil-led minority administration underpinned from Opposition by Fine Gael is not being ruled out by senior Fianna Fáil figures.
Mr Martin would have the numbers in the Dáil if he won the support of the Greens, Labour, Social Democrats and some Independents and got Leo Varadkar to commit to a confidence-and-supply arrangement
But Labour leader Brendan Howlin is expected to tell his parliamentary party today that his party, which won six seats, did not achieve enough critical mass in the election to enable it to enter government. Sources said Mr Howlin would leave open the prospect of Labour supporting a government from opposition on a number of key policy areas, such as housing.
SF negotiating team
Sinn Féin yesterday appointed a negotiating team, to be led by finance spokesman Pearse Doherty, which will seek to begin meetings with smaller parties and Independents on Wednesday.
Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd-Barrett said he did not believe there would be sufficient TDs for an alternative coalition of progressive parties led by Sinn Féin.
Social Democrats joint leader Róisín Shortall also said it appeared that the “numbers aren’t there” to construct a government without Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.
The Green Party met on Tuesday morning and agreed to talk to all other parties. A source said “serious action on climate change and biodiversity loss” would be a red line for entering government.
While many Independent TDs seemed enthusiastic for participation in government, some also outlined significant demands in return for their support. The Cork South-West TD Michael Collins said he would insist on a new and dedicated ministry for fisheries. He also wanted to see a rural resettlement programme and said he would “not support any crowd” that had a role in a potential downgrading of Bantry Hospital.
Sources in both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael say they will stay out of the way and let Sinn Féin try – and fail, most expect – to put together a coalition.
Few TDs expect that the Dáil will elect a taoiseach when it meets on February 20th.
If Leo Varadkar is not elected taoiseach, he will resign his post, but he and his Ministers will continue in office as a caretaker Government until the Dáil approves their successors. There is no time limit on the period in which a caretaker government can hold office.
Shortall - what a great name. They like an oxymoron in Ireland.
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10 minutes ago, Crùbag said:
I'm sure a united Ireland prior to partition had many Protestants.
Sure, any major political move has challenges but the facts remains, most Irish want their country reunified. Many Protestants in the north are scunnered with living in that 'backet case' though many of the more intelligent ones have left leaving the knuckledraggers to their drug gans, bonfires and paramilitary fetisches - at least in working class areas.
I believe it did, then many of them left. I'm only pointing out the difference between an understandable emotional response and a pragmatic evaluation of the realities.
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1 hour ago, oaksoft said:
Can they?
According to who?
Almost everyone, seemingly. That's the reason MacKay is out of office. Did you achieve your Laird of Oaksoft status through persistent amoral behaviour?
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On 07/01/2020 at 22:03, RH33 said:
Reading the Rebus series. Not sure I get the hype.
Detective with drink problem, can’t maintain relationships, usual takes a beating. Rinse and repeat.
But I’ve started so I’ll finish!
Bugger. No point in writing my autobiography if it's all been done.
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Don't want to sound like a Guardian editorial i.e. on the one hand...on the other but it is like that. Didn't like Townsend's reference to alcohol, made it seem like a mad drinking binge. If you're a supporter whose side do you take, George Best or Frank O' Farrell?
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1. Jock Stein
2. Brian Clough
3. Alex Ferguson
4. Bill Shankly
5. Jim McLean
It should be remembered that Dundee United beat the Lisbon Lions both home and away in that season. So, Jerry Kerr at Number 6.
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Yes, I understand this and the emotional attraction of freeing the last green field from bondage. I genuinely think that singing songs and mythologising martyrs is as far as some nationalism goes. The loyalists used to be accused of being loyal to the half-crown - we'll see how fervent the appeal of a United Ireland is if and when a vote comes. Of course Ireland should never have been partitioned but, in some ways, it must have seemed a rational short-term solution. I would actually like to see unification sooner rather than later, just anticipating some element of realpolitik.
Intended as reply to John Lambie's Doos.
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3 hours ago, Crùbag said:
I'm not so sure about that.
Those polled have never been to Larne or Ballymena. Would the Republic seriously take a million furious loyalists to its bosom. How else are people expected to answer a question on part of what is supposed to be the national political creed? Northern Ireland is a political, financial and, to some extent,moral basket case and that might be a consideration in an actual vote.
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20 hours ago, Monkey Tennis said:
Absolute bollocks. He was a customs official. This comes after the discredited crap about Hitler living in Liverpool.
Can people please...
STOP GETTING HITLER WRONG!
I think the Hitler/Liverpool connection only exists in a Beryl Bainbridge novel.
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1 hour ago, Henderson to deliver ..... said:
Sir Rodger was a good lad, but lived and died over 100 years ago.
I'm sure it was a proud day for you and your family when you were made Thane however, by accepting the tarnished baubles of the ruling class you have forever associated yourself with the undeserving ne'er do wells'.
Seemingly there's a real-life Thane of Cawdor. I hope neither he nor Lord Lyon King of Arms monitor this site.
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17 hours ago, Henderson to deliver ..... said:
Looking forward to a knight of the realm holding the establishment to account tbh.
Sir Roger Casement had a good go at it. Those of us recognised by the Honours System resent your implication.
The rank is but the guinea's stamp; the man's the gowd for a' that.
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1 hour ago, Granny Danger said:
The baby steps metaphor is not really applicable though is it? It suggests achieving an objective through slow progress; I don’t believe Labour’s goal under Starmer will be looking to achieve that objective.
Maybe the U.K. as a whole is in a place where they will only accept two options of right-of-centre politics but I think the left are really shit at getting their message across and enthusing a large part of what should be their base.
Well I don't believe that Starmer wants the aspirations of Clause iv, but to make any serious progress Labour must be electable. If, in order to achieve this, Labour has to start from marginally to the left of the Tories then that's an unfortunate truth. A credible leader and even slightly more progressive policies is at least a start. Maybe The Fabians knew something after all. Fortunately, Scotland may eventually get another shot at freeing itself from being chained to a lunatic.
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22 minutes ago, Granny Danger said:
I have to admit I was totally wrong when I predicted Starmer wouldn’t win the Labour leadership.
Some will say that the membership is being pragmatic, others will say they are more interested in power than what they will do with that power once in office.
I predict that if he ever becomes PM Starmer will lead a Tory Lite government; curbing the worse excesses of Toryism but making no fundamental changes to the structure of society in favour of the most vulnerable and doing nothing to mitigate the power of big business.
Ah Granny, I too am nostalgic for the days of Clause iv but don't see it as a campaign winner. For better or worse pragmatism is the starting point. Baby steps and all that.
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1 hour ago, Tynierose said:
The Titanic tour is good, also get the tour bus which takes you through the city with plenty of decent stops. The jail is worth seeing. If you have the time you can get the bus out to the Giants Causeway which is tremendous.
Pub wise you of course have to go to the Crown which is a beautiful boozer.
I think a lot of people would be disappointed by The Giant's Causeway. As Dr Johnson said: "Worth seeing, but not worth going to see." Fingal's Cave at the other end of the causeway is much more impressive and interesting, albeit not that easy to get to. Agree about The Crown,
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Ha, no. I hadn't even made that connection I was just browsing through topics that I thought might be amusing. I saw your assertion that something was racist and thought I would be a bit arsey too. Pie and Bovril can be a semantic minefield so I will tread warily.
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1 hour ago, LongTimeLurker said:
Compare and contrast the response to the rise of AfD in Germany to the rise of SF in the RoI. An interesting contrast to say the least. A wee reminder of the sort of antics you get in the Dail from SF:
I don't know the background to this particular issue but what I do see is a furious representative denouncing eviction/reposession of a constituent's home. Whether landlords during the Highland Clearances or banks during the US dustbowl era these are generally held to be the bad guys. I also think Varadkar was out of order with the balaclava reference given that the questioner didn't endorse violence in his contribution.
Incidentally, how has the Labour Party fallen to such a level since the heady days of the gloriously named Dick Spring? Also, surprised to see a reincarnated Brian Faulkner sitting behind the questioner, now that is some conversion (no Dick Spring pun intended).
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1 hour ago, Moomintroll said:13 hours ago, Thane of Cawdor said:Now that's a racist trope.
Hmm, who did you used to be then? Try looking up the definition, means a loan shark & has zero Semitic connations in the way I used it.
Today, “shylock” is considered an antisemitic slur and, after being called out by the Anti-Defamation League, Biden apologized for his “poor choice of words.”
Time Magazine, September 17, 2014.
I don't believe in reincarnation so, for better or worse, will always be me.
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On 18/11/2019 at 19:15, Moomintroll said:
Just watched an advert from some Shylocks called oakam.com,making it sound like lending at 1300% apr is doing someone a favour. I thought arseholes like them were getting banned.
Now that's a racist trope.
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1 hour ago, Bishop Briggs said:
Big companies undertake detailed due diligence on personal behaviour when making senior appointments such as Finance Director.
Why should politics be any different? Politicians in all parties have a duty of care to the voters, party members and staff to ensure that Parliamentarians are fit for office.
Sometimes I suppose, but clearly not always. You will remember the Crystal Methodist appointed Chairman of The Co-operative bank.
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Private Eye being all visionary.
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George Orwell wrote: "England is a family in which the young are generally thwarted and most of the power is in the hands of irresponsible uncles and bedridden aunts. Still it is a family...a family ith the wrong members in control." What kind of family relationship does Scotland have with England? Paternal, fraternal, avuncular, uxorious (great word) etc...or is it abusive?
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1 hour ago, sureiknow said:
I think this one would go down well.
So half a Poundshop politician.
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The EU 27 should strike a commemorative coin inscribed: So long, and thanks for all the fish.
4
The Universe
in The General Nonsense Forum
Posted
Still dicking about with the Sagrada Familia. Orwell thought the anarchists should have blown it up. Must say I agree.