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The Northern Ireland Assembly Election [2 March 2017] Discussion

DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
edited March 2017 in General Discussion Posts: 18,281
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Today [2 March 2017] Northern Ireland goes to the polls again to elect 90 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) where previously there were 108 MLAs. The decrease is due to changes made to the Assembly's make-up whereby a seat is removed from each one of the 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland, going from six seats down to five. It will be kicking in earlier than planned due to this unexpected assembly election.

Given that there was only an Assembly election in May 2016 this is an unusual situation caused by by the resignation of the former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA (Sinn Fein) over the fallout from the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) scandal.

So this is the thread to discuss this important Northern Ireland election, the parties, the candidates, the issues, if you are voting or not, the results etc.

I will be voting first for one of the Opposition parties (the UUP) and will transfer to some other non-Executive parties.

Who wants to get the ball rolling?

Comments

  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Despite the fact that I am an American, I take great interest in this.

    Will David Dimbleby be hosting the results?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    PropertyOfALady wrote: »
    Despite the fact that I am an American, I take great interest in this.

    Will David Dimbleby be hosting the results?

    No, but it will be available on the BBC Newsline and on UTV as well.

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Any Northern Ireland members want to give their views?
  • TokolosheTokoloshe Under your bed
    Posts: 2,667
    I could give my views on the DUP but it would take me a while to edit out all the swearing.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Any Northern Ireland members want to give their views?
    Do we have many N Ireland members here? There must be a few.

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    I would love to see The Ulster Unionist and SDLP parties gain lots of seats. As
    I think they would make a better job of it, but sadly it will be the same old faces
    Back in power. Fighting the same old battles and making the same old "balls up"
    That we've come to know and love !
  • TokolosheTokoloshe Under your bed
    Posts: 2,667
    @Chevron is from NI but he's not on here very often.

    If there are a few of us we should arrange a meet-up.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Well im half Irish if that helps ;)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Top or bottom half ? :D
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Depends on whether im eating or ******ing......
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited October 2019 Posts: 18,281
    Just voted for the UUP, the TUV and an independent. I sure hope it makes a difference up at Stormont!
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited February 2020 Posts: 18,281
    Listening to BBC Radio Ulster there in the car and it's great to hear that turnout is up in this Assembly election to pre-2003 levels. The electorate has certainly been much more engaged in this election than in any other one in the last fifteen years or so. That can surely only be a good thing for participative democracy in Northern Ireland.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Members can follow updates on the results and dramas of the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election live as they happen on the BBC page here:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-39075542
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Sad to see Mike Nesbitt resign as UUP Party Leader after a disappointing election result. Robin Swann would be a good replacement, but it is early days yet.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    Sorry to hear that, I always liked him.
  • ChevronChevron Northern Ireland
    Posts: 370
    Tokoloshe wrote: »
    @Chevron is from NI but he's not on here very often.

    If there are a few of us we should arrange a meet-up.

    I usually lurk briefly in some specific threads but I don't post often.

    Regarding the election I was hoping the "moderate" parties would do a little better than they did. But it's good to see the turn out increase so much at least.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 2017 Posts: 18,281
    Chevron wrote: »
    Tokoloshe wrote: »
    @Chevron is from NI but he's not on here very often.

    If there are a few of us we should arrange a meet-up.

    I usually lurk briefly in some specific threads but I don't post often.

    Regarding the election I was hoping the "moderate" parties would do a little better than they did. But it's good to see the turn out increase so much at least.

    I hoped the moderate parties would do a lot better than they ultimately did, too. Again, it seems that such hope was in vain. Oh well. Life goes on...

    I don't think we live too far apart, by the way.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,184
    Ow look, a political thread on a James Bond forum.
    Can we talk about Brosnan?
    Can I crap all over Farage? And Trump?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    Ow look, a political thread on a James Bond forum.
    Can we talk about Brosnan?
    Can I crap all over Farage? And Trump?

    If you so wish though they have little relevancy to Northern Ireland politics it has to be said. :)
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,184
    Oh well, I trust you can handle the hosting of this thread like monkey handles a coconut, @Dragonpol. But please, keep it clean. ;-)
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    Oh well, I trust you can handle the hosting of this thread like monkey handles a coconut, @Dragonpol. But please, keep it clean. ;-)

    Clean politics in Northern Ireland?! I'll try my best, @DarthDimi! ;)
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    We have the best Politicians money can buy. ;)
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Thunderpussy wrote: »
    We have the best Politicians money can buy. ;)

    Yes, and they quite literally burn our money for us too.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 2017 Posts: 18,281
    So no progress has been made in the talks post-election and there is talk of another assembly election possibly in June, the return of direct rule from Westminster or joint sovereignty rule.

    In the meantime the Secretary of State James Brokenshire MP has given the parties more time for talks - until the end of April.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,184
    Exit politics. Thanks to all for participating.
This discussion has been closed.