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Northern Ireland election

Election 07 graphic

Who wants to be a billionaire 2

  • Mark Devenport
  • 22 Mar 07, 09:49 AM

Just about to trudge off to 11 Downing Street to see what the parties get from Gordon. On Sky TV this morning the Chancellor talked about a 拢50 billion peace package. But that was exactly what he talked about in November last year only to have the commentators decide this was almost all old money repackaged as new.

During the election the DUP defended their ambiguity towards power sharing as a clever tactic which preserved their negotiating leverage with the government. Where does that leave them if the negotiating leverage only produces the same package that was on offer in November?

Of course Gordon did not reveal his tax cut until the final minute of his budget speech so it's possible we may yet hear about a one year delay in water charges and some capital money towards the water service.

So far, though, the mood music over the dividend isn't wonderful. And that points to a fudge in which the DUP seeks some kind of transitional arrangement which won't see the Executive fully up and running until the summer. If that happens, Peter Hain may have to eat a bit of humble pie, but he did that expertly on November 24th so don't rule out him doing it again on March 26th.

Comments   Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 11:16 AM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Terry wrote:

So No 11 will hand the water charges back to those who first agreed them, which is all those parties in the last Assembly. The charges have now done circuit of Assembly to Hain and back to the Assembly. Of course the real punch line to all of this will be the local parties living up to their promises to scrap the charges. Or was that cap them?

  • 2.
  • At 12:42 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • karen Mobey wrote:

I think you have an interesting point there, he didn't reveal the Tax cut plans until the last minuet did he?

And as for Hain, I think he needs to find his voice, he seems to have lost it recently on some issues.

  • 3.
  • At 01:27 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Pedant wrote:

Hi Mark

Just pointing out a small spelling mistake:

here about a one year delay

should be

hear about a one year delay

All the best.

  • 4.
  • At 07:40 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Pandora wrote:

Who wants to be a MILLIONAIRE?

The announcement that the government is to finance the UPRG to the tune of 拢1.2m taxpayers' money raises a number of questions.

1. Will the proposed twelve jobs be advertised in the press?

2. Will the employment rules be strictly adhered to, or will the 50:50 rule not apply?

3. Will preference be given to those members of the UDA who can demonstrate a proven track record in criminality and terrorism?

With outrageous arrogance, the UDA still refuses to decommission its guns.

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