Death by a thousand cuts
I take a couple of days off and look what happens. First an unexpected victory for the UUP at Dromore, thanks to an unexpected showing by the TUV. Then a DUP excursion to Lisbon, arranged some time in advance, for its MPs to mull over the future. Then another Ian Paisley Jr. story, this time about him and his father paying rent on his Ballymena office to a company whose director was his father in law. And finally the resignation of the Junior Minister, who still maintains he has done no wrong.
Last night I was in Dublin watching 91Èȱ¬ Newsline get an Irish Film and Television Academy award for our May 8th Devolution day coverage. But all thought of taking it easy today went out the window when I got a phone call whilst on the Enterprise train informing me about the junior minister's planned move. Within an hour of arriving at Belfast Central Station I was sat in our Assembly studio having to hold forth on "Stormont Live".
The Causeway, Ballee, the St Andrews lobbying, the multiple jobs and now the constituency office have finally done for Jr. The question now is will his resignation buy his father more time as DUP leader and First Minister? Or, having tasted blood, will his critics inside and outside the party be emboldened in moving against his father?
Various names have been mentioned as candidates for Ian Jr.'s job. They include the North Down MLA Peter Weir and the Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton.
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Peter Weir may have been in two parties, but not two seats!!! ... Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton ... perhaps?
MARK RESPONDS: Right first time, now amended
Mark
JUNIOR MINISTER VACANCY: SMART A**ES & FIDGETS NEED NOT APPLY
I think you’ve gotten it wrong that Peter Weir or Simon Hamilton will succeed Junior. For the urbane, eloquent Weir the job of Bag Carrier to the First Minister would hold few attractions. While Hamilton might appear to be a front runner, the DUP Party Officers will not make the mistake of replacing one Smart A**e with another Smart A**e. My guess is that Michelle McIlveen would be a less risky replacement. She does not carry any ‘baggage’ and being a woman will be better able to look after the needs of a slightly gaga octogenarian.
One MLA who definitely can be excluded from the succession is Mervyn Storey because Paisley Senior doesn’t like Fidgets.
Susie
Carryduff
A sequel to J.R. Ewing. Lets have our own North/South Fork ranch film.
WILL THE REAL 'PETER WEIR' PLEASE STAND UP...
Mark - you have been away too long!
With reference to the two MLAs named 'Peter Weir' on your blog - one in North Down and the other in Strangford - are they related, or is one a cunning cardboard cutout? I do think though that one Peter Weir is more than enough.
I note that the North Down Peter Weir's colleague, Alex Easton, is canvassing Minister Foster for the introduction of the Red Squirrel to Castle Park in Bangor. Perhaps Mr Easton could advise the Minister on how these Red Squirrels are to be fed as to my knowledge there are no monkey nut trees in the vicinity!
MARK RESPONDS: Well spotted - the other Peter Weir has now been renamed
'will his resignation buy his father more time as DUP leader'
Suggest you talk to your friends at Westminster Mark re the rules on allowances for MPs
Mark do the Assembly, Executive or NIO publish how much each MLA gets in allowances for their pay, how much they pay their staff and how much it costs to maintain their office including rent?
I still think Ian Paisley Junior has no reason to resign. I know people will laugh and think I am crazy (I am not a DUP supporter) but all Ian Paisley Jr has done is to do the best for his constituents. After all how did he get into the Assembly? The votes. On a recent "Politics Show" you done a piece about Ian P Jr and all the people in his homeland backed him. Anyone who went to him with a problem he sorted it out. This is how he got elected because people knew what they were getting in return. Take someone like Jim Bowen (Allister) what do they get for their vote only an overpaid baboon with an attitude problem. After 10 months Jim can’t give people a reason to support him unless they are bitter and twisted.
It was interesting to note what Peter Robinson said in relation to junior’s resignation. I just hope when Paisley senior retires his favourite to succeed him (Nigel Dodds) does so. It would be a sad day for N. Ireland if Robinson was in charge. For someone who criticises the Civil Service so much and wants them destroyed he needs them. After all who would keep him in a job? If there was no EO2, Admin Officers and Admin Assistants the country would be like Jim Allisters face - a disaster.
Ian Paisley Jnr's replacement will be very interesting.
Ian Senior relied heavily on his Junior Minister.
If it's Simon Hamilton Peter Robinson's agenda will be advanced.
It it's Edwin Poots then the Paisley agenda will be held steadfast.
Who we get really depends on how long Senior intends to stay. If he intends to stay for long he will need someone close to his thinking.
I've been sitting for the last few minutes trying to think of something kind to write by way of a political obituary/epitaph.
Perhaps:
Gays laugh at Sweeney Gaffe, or,
Gone but soon Forgotten?
RE the Michelle McIlveen comment - way to strike a blow for equality. There are few enough women in politics without implying they should only be there to fetch and carry for their party seniors.
The junior minister's portfolio is hardly going to be attractive to established members like Donaldson, Simpson or Campbell who may well wish to obtain higher office once Paisley senior inevitably retires. It may well be that some of the rising younger members of the party like Hamilton or McIlveen could be offered the post. Perhaps McIlveen has been groomed for the position since she's the DUP's spokesperson on children which is in the junior Minister's remit. Maybe the more likely members to be considered though are Weir and Storey who both have the experience to deal with the position. One thing is for certain there is a pool to choose from...
It'll be interesting softer Hamilton and Weir or harder McIlveen and Storey. It depends what the DUP wants to take out of the Dromore result.
For those more in the know, what would be the difference between a Paisley-lead or Robinson-lead DUP?
I find it very interesting that Ms McIlveen's name is even being mentioned. No offence is intended by this but surely the role of a Junior Minister should go to someone more experienced. In all fairness she was only elected in March last year and has not even been an MLA for a year let alone the fact she has been a councillor for only 3 years. I think someone of Peter Weir's experience and ability to handle a high profile media position is what is needed by the DUP at this moment in time.
"Then another Ian Paisley Jr. story, this time about him and his father paying rent on his Ballymena office to a company whose director was his father in law."
Can you name that company, Mark?
If it was Sarcon [No 250] Limited the Companies Register records show that Seymour Sweeney is the current sole director and the company secretary is Sarcon Compliance Limited. Sarcon is an anagram of Carson and solicitors Carson McDowell provide the staff for Sarcon Compliance Limited.
In the legal dispute linked to the business consortium set up to buy the Ballee lands its company name is given as Sarcon [ ] Limited. Is it not unusual that the name of the company is incomplete?
I suspect you will discover that the only reason Simon Hamilton's name was even mentioned as part of this debate may have alot to do with the fact that as a recent UUP convert he is being touted by those in the DUP's communications and policy unit, all of whom are former UUP members - pushing one of "their own". Hamilton is a fairly competent representative but he has no real personal standing within the party. This exercise was a win:win for him. If he got the job; great. If he didn't; his political stock will surely have increased due to his "presence" in the debate. He could possibly be attempting to establish himself with a view to nomination for Europe?