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Election 07

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Politics does 'showbiz'

  • Brian Taylor
  • 23 Apr 07, 06:31 PM

Does celebrity matter? Obviously, it does if you want a good table in a restaurant or crave to display your fascinating family on reality TV.

But does it matter in politics? Does it tick your box when it comes to deciding which party to support?

I guess it must – because the parties expend such energy in attracting star backing.

Today we had Labour trumpeting a string of soccer stars who are backing the Union (against the option of independence.)

And we had the SNP promoting a list of 100 business people who are supporting Nationalism.

Me, I’ve never quite absorbed the concept. Perhaps it’s my innate professional scepticism.

Perhaps it’s a memory of the time one particular party were punting a big-name celebrity backer.

I was enjoined, nay entreated, to interview said celeb. Grumbling, I did so – only for the celeb to depart utterly from the party line round about question three.

One up for the forces of virtue, I reckon.

But if party politics is a brand, I suppose it needs its celebrity advertisers. It carries risks, though.

That rock band who look so cool - (is that still the right word?) - on stage can sound mumbling and incoherent if asked to comment on education policy.

That business leader whose word is law in the boardroom can sound remarkably naïve when confronted with the need to persuade voters rather than order them into line.

There are exceptions, of course. Still, I think I prefer the more basic approach.
Decide whose policies you like most – and vote for them.

Watch out Translink

  • Mark Devenport
  • 23 Apr 07, 06:01 PM

Stormont was fairly quiet today, with Sinn Fein grabbing the headlines by confirming former IRA prisoner Martina Anderson as one of their three nominees to the Policing Board. Her fellow Foyle MLA, the DUP's Willie Hay, watched the announcement from the Great Hall balcony, but there's still no confirmation that he will be the Speaker.

Whilst all eyes will be on the new Executive ministers, the local parties are still sorting out their "SPADs", the Special Advisors who will work behind the scenes. Aidan McAteer and Dara O'Hagan are two of Sinn Fein's three at the OFMDFM, where it looks like their DUP counterparts will be Timothy Johnston and Emma Little. The SDLP's Brian Barrington will make a return appearance with their only minister Margaret Ritchie.

Some MLAs are already plotting what the Stormont committees they will sit on might get their teeth into. One politician who expects to be on the new Public Accounts Committee predicts its first probe will look at Translink and the relaying of the Belfast to Bangor railway line. Back in March an Audit Office report said "serious management deficiencies" led to the 2001 project costing £34m - twice the original budget - and running nine months late.

On the bus(es)

  • Betsan Powys
  • 23 Apr 07, 10:00 AM

A weekend on the road.

Over to South Wales West on Saturday to escape for the day and to see a man who'd been out all morning on the stump on behalf of his lot.

A chat about doorstep canvassing techniques ("Helps if your candidate's a looker") turns into one of those spot-the-surprise-result-on-the-night sessions.

I've already had one old head on young(ish) shoulders warning us to keep more than one eye on Montgomeryshire and another suggesting that Islwyn 'could be interesting'. Why? Vocal independent candidate, local council issues: always a heady mix.

Up to Colwyn Bay yesterday. I'm sitting on the 91Èȱ¬ bus opposite Specsavers as I write and if you listen very, very hard you can hear the sound of Conservatives doing sums. They reckon they can win 5 seats in North Wales. 5?

Come on, what's on the list? Ah well, they were talking about 5 on a good night. How good? Clwyd West, Aberconwy, Delyn, Vale of Clwyd and ... Ynys Mon. They admit the last one's a bit of mischief-making but insist they're not joking about unseating Ann Jones. They'll have quite a job.

A really good night for the Tories would be a bad, sad one for Brynle Williams. He's first on the Conservative list in North Wales and admits he's 'sick with desire' (doesn't translate that well ... ) to get back into Cardiff Bay. He's no fool either. The party may have wanted me "just for my name" he says. It was no certainly suprise when the Tories came knocking on the door of the straight-talking fuel campaigner who took on the Labour government and gave Tony Blair some sleepless nights.

"I'm still not really like other AMS - you know me", Brynle is fond of saying but he reckons he's earned his spurs. Will he get back in? Not if Ann Jones has anything to worry about.

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