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Northern Ireland election

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Text Election

  • Mark Devenport
  • 7 Mar 07, 12:32 PM

It's polling day which means that until 10pm tonight I am in purdah, hiding my analysis away discreetly behind a veil, whilst the voters make up their minds.

One thing I do want to mention though is that 91热爆 NI is providing a free text service to your mobile phone with regular updates on how the count at the Assembly election is going - who's winning those coveted seats and who'll be the power-brokers at Stormont.

We think it's a UK election first, so to sign up text the word "election" to 81222. Don't bother putting in the inverted commas. You'll get updates on the winners and the state of the parties from two o'clock on Thursday March 8.

Alan asked where the Belfast constituency votes are being counted, given that the CIty Hall isn't being used. The counting will take place in the Nugent Hall, which is behind the King's Hall at Balmoral. The election officials there and elsewhere should have a turnout figure for us around lunchtime on Thursday with the first results due early in the afternoon.

Gareth Lee and Gerard G ask what's the new name of this blog going to be? I presume that's a reference to the fact that the election will be over at 10pm tonight. To be honest I'm not sure about the technicalities - the blog is on a shared platform with my counterparts in Scotland and Wales, whose elections happen in May. So maybe we'll continue to use the election name for a while even though technically everything should be done and dusted by Friday. I was thinking of keeping the blog going at least until the devolution deadline of March 26th just to see how things go.

However this does raise two questions I'm happy to get your opinions on - should this blog carry on after March 26th? And if it does what should I call it?

All suggestions (well almost all) appreciated...

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 07:18 PM on 07 Mar 2007,
  • Dave McLaughlin wrote:

It is truly sad that an organisation such as the 91热爆 is incapable of covering the Irish issue objectively. Your concise & well trained slant on Ireland will be missed by most. But here are some classic examples;

1). On the Air this morning, Sinn Fein was referred to as the political arm of the IRA. Stop this nonsense. Sinn Fein is a political party & report it as such.

2). And this trash...."The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date.

Tell the truth - the whole truth. The "IRA spy ring" was, in fact, a British Government spy planted in Stormont to spy on Sinn Fein. This particular character subsequently commited suicide.

These two examples are so sad. The 91热爆 cannot & will not tell the truth about Ireland. I've listened to the 91热爆 World Service, off & on, for over 3 decades. Any 91热爆 coverage around the world is worthy except when it comes to Ireland. It's now the 21st Century. Try taking an objective view of Ireland & give the full picture. Forget about your political slant in Ireland. You're worthy of better.

  • 2.
  • At 08:09 PM on 07 Mar 2007,
  • Tom wrote:

what about the Davenport Diaries

  • 3.
  • At 08:43 PM on 07 Mar 2007,
  • David Thompson wrote:

Please keep it going! it's interesting to read what's really going on from a different angle than standard reports.

  • 4.
  • At 11:35 PM on 07 Mar 2007,
  • Gordon wrote:

Mark, ive really enjoyed your blog over the election campaign, please keep it up permanently, just like Nick Robinsons!

  • 5.
  • At 12:23 AM on 08 Mar 2007,
  • Gareth wrote:

Please do continue your blog. It's nice to hear what is going on behind the headlines.

  • 6.
  • At 10:54 AM on 08 Mar 2007,
  • Aaron Pearce wrote:

really enjoyed it mark, you're a natural. keep it up!

of course, it depends if you have any politics to report on ;) Have you mentioned to Paisley that your blog depends on a decent settlement!

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