Arlene, Edwin, her replacement and his replacement as leader of the DUP

Beechwoodspark

Journalist on RTÉ at mo saying it’s between

Edwin poots and Sammy Wilson

Would love to see the Dup consigned to the dustbin of history following their leadership

Beechwoodspark

Lmkrnr wrote: »

Isn't the orange on our tricolour to show inclusion to the Prodestant section of Ireland. How inclusive do we need to be. They burn the same flag on bonfires, you would think they would remove the orange part first.

Yes. The flag was designed to include the green for nationalists white for peace in middle and orange for unionists

For Forks Sake

What about this forward-thinking chap?

https://www.irishnews.com/news/2013/07/03/news/dup-bids-to-ban-drink-at-beer-festival-64047/

A DUP councillor has attempted to ban the sale of alcohol - at a festival which celebrates and showcases beer.

Jim Mcelroy, who sits on Ban-bridge District council, brought forward a motion calling for a ban on beer at the three-day oktoberfest event in the town later this year.

For Forks Sake

Credit: The Ulster Fry FB

Cilldara_2000

Del.Monte wrote: »

Reading through the thread it's easy to see why Unionists relish the prospect of being part of a united Ireland. Ridicule and the usual trolling bs - shure why not dispense with elections altogether and let the wonderful, clean living, secular Shinners have free rein.

See comments elsewhere on this site about the likes of Rónán Mullen. Most of us are equal opportunity ridiculing of bible bashers who think they can pray teh gay away. If anything the vast majority of the comments reckon that this sort of hard right, hardline religious nonsense won't fly with a majority of unionists. That's hardly knocking or ridiculing unionism.

breezy1985

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Journalist on RTÉ at mo saying it’s between

Edwin poots and Sammy Wilson

Would love to see the Dup consigned to the dustbin of history following their leadership

I would love to see a US style primary debate between DUP leadership candidates. Would be comedy gold

Big Ears

For anyone who expects the DUP to look for someone more moderate or their vote to disappear up North, you don't quite get why people vote DUP.

In the main, most Unionist voters don't vote DUP because they agree with their policies, they vote DUP because they see them as a counterbalance to Sinn Fein and Republicanism.
If the DUP were to suddenly become more moderate, there is a good chance TUV support would soar !

It is for this reason you'll see somebody even less moderate than Arlene in charge, to many within the DUP she was too soft in her stance.....as crazy as that might seem to most.

breezy1985

Big Ears wrote: »

For anyone who expects the DUP to look for someone more moderate or their vote to disappear up North, you don't quite get why people vote DUP.

In the main, most Unionist voters don't vote DUP because they agree with their policies, they vote DUP because they see them as a counterbalance to Sinn Fein and Republicanism.
If the DUP were to suddenly become more moderate, there is a good chance TUV support would soar !

It is for this reason you'll see somebody even less moderate than Arlene in charge, to many within the DUP she was too soft in her stance.....as crazy as that might seem to most.

Ya but if they go hard right then Alliance votes soar so it's a tough one for them

RandomViewer

External Association wrote: »

Paisley JR, is it financial stuff behind the scenes?

Old Paisley dragged them around Europe every Summer when they were kids, would have seen different cultures and more Liberal societies, this wouldn't play well with the DUP fire and brimstone brigade who view coffee drinkers as heathens

gmisk

RandomViewer wrote: »

Old Paisley dragged them around Europe every Summer when they were kids, would have seen different cultures and more Liberal societies, this wouldn't play well with the DUP fire and brimstone brigade who view coffee drinkers as heathens

I don't think the above is relevant in the slightest...bizarre tbh.
The biggest issue (among a few) is Paisley Juniors habit of going on lavish all expense paid trips without declaring any of them
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/27/dup-to-investigate-new-ian-paisley-holiday-allegation
The ones to Sri Lanka were seriously dodgy considering he was lobbying on their behalf.

There is also the lobbying for property developers, the attacks on journalists, not to mention his comments on gay people (but tbh those probably play quite well in the DUP)

O'Neill

It's a real Pity the likes of Sylvia Hermon or Claire Sugden aren't refelective of mainstream Unionism. Perhaps they could be if they formed a party.

Big Ears

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ya but if they go hard right then Alliance votes soar so it's a tough one for them

That's why you provoke the likes of the rioting that's occured recently and do little to stop it.
Try and reinforce the us vs them mentality, and stop people thinking rationally, voting in relation to jobs, transport, quality of life etc and get them thinking about **** like flags, marches and who the PSNI treat more harshly.

Dyr

Big Ears wrote: »

That's why you provoke the likes of the rioting that's occured recently and do little to stop it.
Try and reinforce the us vs them mentality, and stop people thinking rationally, voting in relation to jobs, transport, quality of life etc and get them thinking about **** like flags, marches and who the PSNI treat more harshly.

DUP have alway relied on angrying up the mob to keep their position, they just say the union is under threat, dem uns tuk awr fleg etc and a few riots later the votes roll in for the DUP just to keep dem uns in check

That might not be the formula for success it once was. Unionists not as inclined to smash windows on command it seems

breezy1985

Bambi wrote: »

DUP have alway relied on angrying up the mob to keep their position, they just say the union is under threat, dem uns tuk awr fleg etc and a few riots later the votes roll in for the DUP just to keep dem uns in check

That might not be the formula for success it once was. Unionists not as inclined to smash windows on command it seems

"Arlene Foster for some miniature British flags for others"

Hoboo

breezy1985 wrote: »

"Arlene Foster for some miniature British flags for others"

Here here. Nail on the head.

blanch152

Del.Monte wrote: »

Reading through the thread it's easy to see why Unionists relish the prospect of being part of a united Ireland. Ridicule and the usual trolling bs - shure why not dispense with elections altogether and let the wonderful, clean living, secular Shinners have free rein.

Many of us have little time for either the DUP or SF. Both are sectarian parties that have no place in a modern democracy.

Faugheen

I think this could be the start of a play for a snap election.

Arlene Foster loses, resigns as FM, DUP refuse to appoint someone else, Stormont collapses and DUP make the protocol the big issue of the campaign.

Marcos

Well, The Mallow News has it's hand on the pulse of the nation. https://twitter.com/MallowNews/status/1387076372129005568

realdanbreen

blanch152 wrote: »

Many of us have little time for either the DUP or SF. Both are sectarian parties that have no place in a modern democracy.

SF has protestant members and other non catholic members so they cannot be described as sectarian unlike the DUP

jimmycrackcorm

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Journalist on RTÉ at mo saying it’s between

Edwin poots and Sammy Wilson

Would love to see the Dup consigned to the dustbin of history following their leadership

Fingers crossed for Sammy. The entertainment value of watching his face get redder and redder in interviews is worth it.
Can't see this but a move to a more hard-line stance for the DUP.

Hotblack Desiato

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

This one must become leader

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4TeNAT0Uc4

Ali G isn't in the DUP

FrancieBrady

realdanbreen wrote: »

SF has protestant members and other non catholic members so they cannot be described as sectarian unlike the DUP

Not a single sectarian policy either...but the same as the DUP in blinkered eyes.

Fann Linn

100 years anniversary and it's all falling apart on them. Bring on Sammy Wilson and it'll be the icing on the cake!

CrabRevolution

Call me Al wrote: »

Does anyone think the DUP want to be inclusive?
I can't help but feel that is the very opposite of what they've ever wanted.
Their purpose has always involved creating a group of "others", a target to focus their nastiness at. In the midst of a war it stoked things up.
They've never been a placating and considered voice. The party attracts like-minded supporters so they never will be either.
I think with the pressures of the NIP taking it's toll on their ideology we can look at the extreme end of the party for their next leader..

The fallacy that the DUP have any interest in inclusiveness came up a few times in the brexit debate on NI. The number of posters spouting stuff like "The only threat to the GFA is from of the EU and Irish Government. The DUP wouldn't threaten the GFA considering they negotiated and signed it".

Totally oblivious to the fact the DUP boycotted the talks that created the GFA and were the only mainstream party in the UK or Ireland to advocate rejecting the GFA in the subsequent referendum.

FrancieBrady

CrabRevolution wrote: »

The fallacy that the DUP have any interest in inclusiveness came up a few times in the brexit debate on NI. The number of posters spouting stuff like "The only threat to the GFA is from of the EU and Irish Government. The DUP wouldn't threaten the GFA considering they negotiated and signed it".

Totally oblivious to the fact the DUP boycotted the talks that created the GFA and were the only mainstream party in the UK or Ireland to advocate rejecting the GFA in the subsequent referendum.

Still haven't signed up to the Multi Party Agreement part of the GFA AFAIK.

Dyr

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Fingers crossed for Sammy. The entertainment value of watching his face get redder and redder in interviews is worth it.
Can't see this but a move to a more hard-line stance for the DUP.

Presumably the DUP have some sort of sophisticated matrix to assess the candiates suitability

mariaalice

She is a very poor politician but will who replaces her be any better?

briany

Adopting a more extreme version of a manifesto that is already waning in popularity has not gone well in recent years. Just ask the Labour party of Britain. However, if the DUP are dead set on staying on the hate train, I suppose a route to go would be becoming less sectarian against Catholics and more xenophobic against immigrants a good deal more recent than the Scots-Irish. I'm not advocating this direction, but just acknowledging that parties taking this line have seen an uptick in popularity during the last decade.

jimmycrackcorm

Fann Linn wrote: »

100 years anniversary and it's all falling apart on them. Bring on Sammy Wilson and it'll be the icing on the cake!

Whoever it is, the DUP will hasten the policy of circling the wagons in an effort to reinforce their self-belief in their Britishness instead of trying to convince moderate nationalists that their interests might better lie staying in the UK.

I think, that like their pro-Brexit folly, we are about to witness the DUP take another directional leap to forward the cause of a united Ireland.

breezy1985

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Fingers crossed for Sammy. The entertainment value of watching his face get redder and redder in interviews is worth it.
Can't see this but a move to a more hard-line stance for the DUP.

The only man whose picture makes a noise