Hypocrisy?
Inside Politics this weekend features the Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds. Most of the questions concern the speculation over a Westminster election in November. What about double jobbing minister/MPs? At 81 should Ian Paisley really still be continuing as First Minister, DUP leader, MLA and North Antrim MP?
I also try to assess how much disruption an election might cause the Executive given the timetable for its budget and programme for government. And talking of timing, we move on to discuss the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie's deadline to the UDA over decommissioning.
The North Belfast MP isn't impressed, it seems, by the October 9th deadline. He accuses the SDLP in general and Margaret Ritchie in particular of hypocrisy, citing the SDLP's previous reluctance to approve any sanctions on republicans in relation to IRA violence.
So are the SDLP hypocrites or is this just an early example of an Executive Minister retreating into a traditional political bunker now an election is in the offing? To judge for yourself listen to Inside Politics on 91Èȱ¬ radio Ulster on Saturday at 12.45 pm.
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Here we go again, DUP ranting about anything a national/republican does.
They have a very clear view of politics and stick rigidly to it - Protestantism, Loyalism and all things British. I can agree with some of it, but surely the time has come for a certain maturity in politics. DUP are anything but mature. They scare the electorate about the union and try to get them to support a sectarian vote. They are devious, untruthful and above all, have absolutely no principles.
I mightn't agree with the SDLP or Margaret Ritchie generally, but I fully agree with her stance on terrorism, and the SDLP's consistent position on terrorism.
This is typical of the DUP, blindly rant, rave and react. They cannot and do not know how to lead. If Dodds really wants to find out what his electorate think, he should call down to his constituency, organise a meeting and then lead the people.
He is merely showing that he lets the UDA run the community and he will pick up the votes. NOW THAT IS SHEER HYPOCRACY. Keep up the good work Ritchie
What kind of message does this kind of comment really give out?
Does it act as a clear indicator that all the DUP do is pay lip service to the media when they state that they want to see all armed groups gone for good?
Does this indicate the kind of discussions they have with the rest of the loyalist commission, including these armed gangsters?
People like Nigel Dodds are so obsessed with despising anything republican, they are blinded in that they can not see how close we are to having a normal society, and what becomes almost unforgiveable is that obsession blinds them in that they can not see how much influence and pressure not to mention responsibility they have in making that happen.
That blindness is the reason he wasnt able to give his 110% unequivocal backing and support. It will always be about us and them when it comes to the DUP (except for the times when something might occur in 'their' 'territory', because thats when it becomes a shared space!