It’s approximately 10 years since I returned to Northern Ireland – after more than a decade away.
I’m not sure much has changed in the last 10 years. Technology has improved, I suppose. Ten years ago we were only seeing the earliest stirrings of what we now refer to as social media. Blogging was largely unknown. But neither social media nor blogging have resulted in massive social change (Twitter was supposed to install democracy in Iran. It didn’t).
Before social media we had the telephone. Now it’s a technology that is largely ignored – except as a carrier for data. Where telephone lines used to carry voice, now they, largely, carry data. But the data is of the same old ilk. Now it’s possible to watch West Belfast joy-riders on YouTube. The media have changed but the same old things are being said and done.
On the positive side, Northern Ireland is a much less violent place. Rhetoric has replaced retribution. However often the rhetoric sounds all too similar to how it has always sounded. Because still we have our stunted political system that thrives and reflects our society’s underlying puny-mindedness.
However, at least we can be thankful for something as we are about to start this new decade. Iris Robinson is leaving public life. Perhaps this is the Christmas sign we have been looking for as we take our faltering steps towards the teenies.
My hopes for the future? Well next year we’ll have a general election. My hope is that we will see – for the first time in Northern Ireland’s history – an impressive line-up of Conservative candidates fighting a general election with the full support of the Conservative Party leadership. I look forward to a Conservative, and not a UUP, candidate being chosen for South Belfast. This will be a media spotlight constituency. It’s important that the Conservative Party resolves to win it off the SDLP – not because the incumbent MP is a Catholic, but because of this.
Here are the key numbers about Alasdair McDonnell, MP for South Belfast (from TheyWorkForYou.com):
He has spoken in 12 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
He has received answers to 9 written questions in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
He replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very low number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2008, according to constituents.
He has voted in 22% of votes in parliament with this affiliation — well below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
People have made 5 annotations on this MP’s speeches — below average amongst MPs.
Therefore I hope Alastair McDonnell will be replaced by Peter McCann as MP for South Belfast. That would be a great start to the new decade.
Look I am no fan of Iris Robinson or the DUP but can you not show a bit more respect to someone who is suffering from depression? You often criticise Christians for being “unchristian” but your insidious atheism already has too much of a grip on British society and I hope that comes to an end soon!
I gather from media reports that overwork is part of why Iris is giving up public life. Several commentators have cited excessive workload as a key reason for stress induced depression. However, Mrs Robinson held three jobs – Councillor, MLA and MP. I can understand how someone with three jobs would be stressed. Most of us only have one job – and one can be stressful enough. Damien, we are all masters of our own destiny. Thankfully Mrs Robinson has realised this and we should all be thankful.
No problem but you seemed to be glad that a nother Christian seemed to be bowing out of public life to appease atheisitic idiots like you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Ah, Damien, you finally express an opinion. Perhaps Mrs Robinson’s repugnant, intolerant, views were the result of her “Christianity” or her depression or both. But, yes, I’m glad that she is standing down from public life. No doubt, however, she’ll be replaced by one of the many DUP activists who hold similar views to her own e.g. that homosexuality is viler than the abuse of children. I’d also make the point that the tax-payer will be somewhat better off. Peter and Iris Robinson cost the tax payer over £571,000 in expenses and salary last year.
Your comments re McDonnell and Robinson show a very narrow perspective in life. Firstly, Damien is right in that you seem to gloat over the Iris Robinson’s departure. I too am glad that she is going as I do not believe her brand of politics and religious fervour help move our society forward, but I regret the circumstances that have caused it. I would much rather have had the people do it rather than the sad route it has taken.
And secondly, your attempted reasoning for the removal of McDonnell is nothing but a cynical sectarian/cultural call. If you instead ask the people who live in Northern Ireland (all its constituencies) whether they would want their MPs to spend their time dealing with issues which have little or no bearing here or would prefer their MPs to spend their time working on the ground, dealing with their constituents at a grass roots level, and at a strategic political level, then I am sure there would be a resounding positive response to the latter.
I for one, though not a constituent in Belfast, would want my MP to prioritise their work and time to the benefit of their constituents and not try to climb some ridiculous, misleading and irrelevant league table for the Anoraks.
You miss the point. McDonnell is both MLA and MP. If he wished to focus on only local constituency activities he could stand down as MP and focus on his duties as MLA. The role of an MP is to represent constituency interests in Westminster. Mr McDonnell is rarely there to do so. You seem unclear on the constitutional role that an MP has.
I think you miss the point. In a democracy it is the people you represent who should determine where you focus your resources and your energies.
McDonnel does an excellent job representing his constituents in all the areas they need it. Of course when there are key issues which affect his constituents and need sorted or dealt with through Westminster then he does that. Look how he dealt with the Farepak fiasco.
Try to avoid getting too bogged down with stats and deal more with live issues.
He may well be all the things you say but surely he could do a better job as MP or MLA if he dedicated his time to one or other. Why should he do both? Moreover his attendnance record shows that he is very, very selective in terms of voting and attendance at Westminster and responds slowly, if at all, to constituent correspondence. There is no justification for double mandating.