Election Nomination

It is one of the boxes to tick during any election campaign to "nominate". This involves having a number of people in your area sign your nomination papers. This sounds simple, and it is fair to say that it far from a complex exercise. But it does involve checking election registers etc to ensure that the persons who signed, and believed themselves to appear on the electoral register, actually are!

This cheery bunch are some of those who attended to show their support when I lodged my papers with the electoral office. Roy Beggs Jnr, my Party colleague and running mate in East Antrim lodged his papers at the same time.

Anyway, no doubt you will see some of this bunch at your door in the coming weeks asking you to support myself and Roy. Without change in the balance of Parties at Stormont, we will have the same people responsible for the shambles of the last four years, calling the shots in the next four years. That would not be good for you and it would not be good for Northern Ireland.Come on Working For Change in East Antrim.

Baca Selengkapnya »

Referendum on AV

Working For Change in East Antrim - I have always taken a progressive view on electoral reform, and I am delighted that next May's Assembly and Local Government elections are likely to coincide with the referendum on AV. I hope that local parties take up the challenge of putting the arguments before voters in the run up to the election. It will be interesting to see the positions adopted by local parties on this issue, especially if it is tied to a reduction in seats as some peoples jobs or double-jobs may be on the line! On that note, will voters forgive those who have U-turned on double-jobbing?

Baca Selengkapnya »

No Ulster Voice In the New Parliament

No Ulster Voice In the New Parliament.- As the shape of the next Government becomes apparent and the size of the majority of the Conservative Lib Dem coalition confirmed, it is clear that no Northern Ireland individual or grouping will have any influence on the balance of power in the next Parliament. In East Belfast many will be asking why in ousting Robinson by backing a candidate who supports the Lib Dems, they did not simply vote Conservative and Unionist, and in East Antrim many voters who believed in the DUP unfetterd voice will now see a Government not needing to listen to a handful of local MPs. The only influence we could have had by being on the inside is now sadly lost. That said, if the Lib Dems get their referendum on AV that will be good for Northern Ireland too. Working For Change in East Antrim

Baca Selengkapnya »

The "Billy no Mates" of the Arab World

I read today a desciption of Muammar Gaddafi as the "billy no mates" of the Arab world and it is certainly true that had it not been for the support of Arab countries, the current intervention in Libya by our country and others would not be taking place. I congratulate David Cameron and William Hague on this one, their efforts were central to bringing about a proper UN Resolution as well as International willing for action. Now our brave airmen and airwomen are in flight supported by their colleagues, I wish them all well for a safe return.

gordon brown and col gadaffi

Nobody has mentioned Libya on the doorstep when I have been out talking to people, I didn't expect them to. However, many people have mentioned rocketing fuel prices, something I certainly did expect. The two issues are clearly related. Instability in Libya caused the recent spike in oil prices. Despite the fact that the Saudis increased their oil production in response to the instability, prices still spiked due to the uncertainty in the market.

For me the solution is simple, we must reduce our dependency on oil. If a similar crisis had developed in say Saudi Arabia, the spike in oil prices would have been such as to perforate our economy and destroy any recovery. The nuclear alternative is fraught with danger. The tragedy of Japan serves as a real warning to all those who see nuclear power as a solution to oil dependency.

This brings me to renewable sources of energy, I support investing in and developing renewables. May I make it quite clear, not in the ad hoc manner of random individual applications for wind turbines, but in a clearly organised and structured fashion. No longer, should aesthetics be raised as an objection to renewables, when it is at the expense of greater economic independence and greater economic stability. Energy is one important area, in which, I believe we in Northern Ireland, could take the lead for the UK and lay solid foundations for our future. Working For Change in East Antrim

Baca Selengkapnya »

Monkstown Anti-Drugs Protest

Monkstown Anti-Drugs Protest

I am always happy to support communities standing up against criminal elements operating within areas.

I admire the courage and determination of residents in Monkstown who turned up to protest on this occasion. I was and I am happy to show them my support. Tackling crime invoves galvanising community spirit and ensuring the policing response is properly co-ordinated and maintains community confidence.

Potential witnesses to crime must be reassured and protected from potential or actual intimidation. Working as a Barrister I have all too often seen at first hand cases collapse or turn on witness non-participation or non-co-operation, no doubt more often than not through fear.

I feel I have a contribution to make at Stormont to ensure witnesses within our criminal justice system are properly supported and protected. Oh yeah How Many More Leaflets? Have Alliance lost it in Carrick? read another article this blog

Baca Selengkapnya »

How Many More Leaflets? Have Alliance lost it in Carrick?

I know many of you are asking yourselves, how many more leaflets? given the amount of Council and Assembly campaign material already received by post and by hand. The answer, who knows in the next few days!
How Many More Leaflets? Have Alliance lost it in Carrick?, However one leaflet really stood out for me, not I suspect for the reasons intended.

I received an Alliance Party postal Leaflet to my home in Carrick which made the following statement, "In East Antrim it's Alliance or Sein Fein -your choice". Now clearly the Alliance Party spelt Sinn Fein incorrectly, but that isn't the point.

Only a week before, East Antrim Alliance candidate Ms Mulvenna, made the following comment, "Alliance works with all parties to build consensus and the UUP would do well to follow Alliance's example instead of being negative on issues like who will be First Minister".

So which is it Geraldine Mulvenna, your press office or your leaflet writer, who speaks for Alliance in East Antrim?

Of course the reality in East Antrim could be much easier ascertained by any Alliance member if they chose to pop into the bookmakers beside their Carrick office.

The bookmakers, like the experts, predict Alliance one seat but with no chance of two, they give the DUP three seats with no chance of four, and they give the UUP one certain seat. In fact the sixth seat, according to the bookies and experts (I am reliably informed), is the only issue in East Antrim. That means the second Ulster Unionist, me in all probability, against Sinn Fein. The odds are 5/2 and 6/4.

So on the expert view bizarrely in East Antrim voting DUP 1-4 will help Sinn Fein and open up the prospect of a seat for Sinn Fein for the first time. The boundary changes have made this possible. Had the DUP ran 3 candidates the prospect of a Sinn Fein MLA for East Antrim would have remained much more remote. Voters would have transferred after the third candidate rather than after a fourth who will be well behind the race. Votes always go astray on transfers.

So just to be clear, Working For Change in East Antrim the Alliance leaflet should have read, In East Antrim it is McCune or Sinn Fein -your choice. But I suppose Alliance don't want to tell voters that.

Baca Selengkapnya »