Comments for from the bench..........

Comment on Good news from Ulster by pauljohnston

pauljohnston — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:02:55 +0000

Nothing like commenting on a post two years after it was written! Under the circumstances at the time it appeared that there could be a new, NON-sectarian force in NI politics that might give people there the opportunity my uncle George (a Belfast Catholic Johnston like my father and umpteen of my relatives) an opportunity to make a difference to the government of the UK, of which NI is still a part. In fact the Conservatives are the only main stream UK party to have been willing to organise in Ni since neither Labour nor your Lib Dem friends were willing to do so. The party decided to do this in 1989, while Margaret Thatcher was still PM.
You may have some useful comments to make about the effects of the Major-Blair Peace Process and I would be very interested to hear them and discuss them. However please refrain from abuse like ‘tosh’ etc. if you want to be taken seriously.

Comment on Good news from Ulster by Paul

Paul — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:14:01 +0000

re “road back into the mainstream of British politics”

Ha! What tosh that turned out to be. With a substantial and fast growing nationalist (catholic) constituency, NI mainstream politics are heading in one direction only, and it’s most definately not east across the Irish Sea.

Take a look at http://ulstersdoomed.blogspot.com if you want indepth coverage on the rapidly changing demographic and policitical situation there.
The largest party in NI is now Sinn Fein, there is now a catholic school-age majority, and an overall majority is inevitable within a couple of decades.

The Tories’ belated and spectacularly hamfisted foray into NI politics was nothing more than a thinly disguised attempt to get a few votes in the event of a hung parliament. Their alliance with a bunch of UCUPNF anti-Agreement rejectionists, and the attempted facilitation of a nakedly sectarian pan-unionist elction pact, would have threatened the peace process. The nationalist community could never have regarded the consservatives as honest brokers given such behaviour.

The Tories little englander approach has never suited the delicate arena of NI politics.
Major’s grandstanding quite literally blew the process apart. Thank goodness that the Lib Dems got in alongside you to thwart your Colonel Blimp tendencies.

Comment on Huhne upset by Manual

Manual — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:19:31 +0000

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Comment on What’s wrong with BRITISH golf? by Harlan

Harlan — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:09:24 +0000

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Comment on What’s wrong with BRITISH golf? by Kosta

Kosta — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:28:15 +0000

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Comment on The Referendum cometh! by Zachary

Zachary — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:32:13 +0000

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Comment on Captaining England by pauljohnston

pauljohnston — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:55:55 +0000

Thanks Martin. I’m thinking about next time round. There’s quite some time to go. However I shall find something to do to keep me occupied!
Thanks to you and Richard for the very kind words.

Comment on Captaining England by Martin De Kauwe

Martin De Kauwe — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:55:27 +0000

Wow, Richard your life story sounds v.exciting, I hadn’t actually heard that in full! Brilliant.

Mr. Johnston sorry to hear about your seat, usually I would argue the less torries the better, but in your case (and your case only) I shall make an exception. I hope you reclaim it next time round!

Richard we must put Mr J forward for britian’s best teacher…