NI Dec 22 Assembly Election

So the DUP are going to capitulate on their demands in your view?

And it more or less will be that agreement with a few flexibilities built in used. Good to know the DUP will take down the tents and get on with it.

I can’t think of any scenario where one side get everything they ask. Absolutely I would want them to compromise, but I want them to play hard ball and not give any hint that they are willing to move until the appropriate moment

Those numbers are very disappointing from an Ireland unity standpoint, it looks like the religious background to demographic change means little (out breeding the protestants happened but the younger generation aren't buying into it) and NI has a stronger sense of its own identity. The republic numbers are also lower than I expected. That 66 number will need to make concessions that reduce it down towards 55 if there is to be any gains in the North, those concessions will be hard to take for some people.

it's also nowhere near good enough numbers for a border poll to be on the horizon.

I'd like to see a United Ireland, hopefully within my lifetime.

Is there any age breakdown to the numbers?

I actually don’t care what the dup wanted or whether they need to compromise, indeed I hope they do compromise, but obviously within the context of compromise from others.

if Carlsberg done polls! They just keep coming.

here’s another reassuring one. A remarkable majority in GB want the ECJ removed from any oversight in NI. Thank you my friends

Your first sentence explained….

I don’t care how difficult dup find it to compromise as long as they do. Yes I hope they will. And yes I am glad they are giving the impression the are hell bent on not compromising - that’s a fair position at this point.

so nail your colours to the mast francie. If there is compromise on Ecj authority in ni, will you admit unionists achieved something you thought they didn’t have a chance of achieving - and that is at the extreme end of the comprises we want from the negotiations

You said it would not be negotiated and changes would not be outside the flexibilities built into it. Is that still your position?

Of course protocols are required. There always were protocols eg around moving animals etc.

you condemn my communities agitation and resistance around the current protocol. Yet every non-unionist party in NI were calling for the ‘rigorous implementation’ of the protocol. The Irish gov and the shinners told us to suck it up as there would be no negotiating and no deviation.

the one thing guaranteed to focus and unite unionism is a United pan-nationalist push against us.

there was a point about a year ago I did wonder would we ever get movement, but I have been pleasantly surprised that we now have all parties in a place where they have done an about turn on ‘rigorous implementation’ and negotiations happening, etc - even Francie has just said there will be ‘small CHANGES’ 😮

we are in a much better place today than a year ago. Polls showing Ui is further away than ever, unionism uniting politically whilst also gaining a realisation of the importance of ensuring OWC is owned and the vision caught by everyone, bar republicans.

a lot of work ahead but I am confident in 5 years OWC will be even more secure, all communities, bar republicans, will be even more Northern Irish.

I don’t care who first minister will be - indeed a nationalist FM will help moderate nationalists feel even more bought in.

BBC done a wee piece last night on imagining the election, which should have happened today, had actually happened. I am not sure if it is only available in our country or whether you can get it in Ireland but here it is (from about 25 mins) https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001g7f7/the-view-15122022

the bottom line is that they were saying exactly what I said on here at time election was proposed ie DUP and SF will increase. DUP may overtake SF. UUP and SDLP in further trouble. UUP position on being prepared to go back into stormont will hit them hard and big hitters like Doug Beattie and Mike nesbitt may lose their seats.

the only surprise for me was the pundits agreeing that Alliance would have taken some pain and lost seats.

the above was a consensus from pundits on both sides. The biggest winners would have been the DUP for their anti protocol stance and opt out of stormont. No wonder the SOS refused to let the election run.

I see the SDLP video-posting (vote chasing) today standing in so-called solidarity with the only unionists left living in my town in which there is a big upsurge in sectarian attacks on the Protestant pensioners living there. They never done this in 50 years of on-ongoing attacks which would suggest they feel their only hope of votes in this area are from moderate unionists. It would fit them better they would go and make the statements outside the SF MPs office in the town named after some of those who carried out the sectarian murder in the town instead of standing outside Protestant homes. Asking the MP why he is silent would be a better approach - still wouldn’t be getting any votes mind you.

Well I am a unionist. So yes I know what at least one unionist thinks

PeasSea to suggest I am out of touch with my community and that republicans know better how they are ticking is arrogant and rediculous.

when I was told two months ago that this opposition would all fade away, I posted the above couple of posts predicting actions that would happen pre Christmas - would you agree they have turned out pretty damned accurate in both timing and content?

Also. My predictions for how the unionist community would vote in the recent election (that never happened) were backed up accurately by the subsequent polls.

so you charge has no substance!

I think that on the protocol the unionist community is fairly united, and yes, I reflect that. I don’t speak for anyone but myself