North of Ireland Politics

An interesting election upcoming, massive Alliance gains and SF potentially the biggest party for the first time. 

The TUV wouldn't but they are never going to be in a position to be offered it as they are likely to have only one MLA elected as usual. They have forced the DUP and UUP to posture on the issue, a foolish thing to do as everyone knows it's a joint office and they'll take it ok if the alternative is the loss of their fat salaries and a border poll. The DUP will dick around for a while after the election in the hope of some sort of soft landing on the protocol but there's a time limit on how long they can do that. In the meantime the posturing creates an effect similar to Snarlene's crocodile statement and will drive up the Sinn Fein vote as a consequence. They never learn.

They'll do the usual posturing like Green Cockade says. I think the unionist vote will be severely split as the threat of "themmuns" seems to have been replaced with anger at the DUP. I think the soft unionists might drift to Alliance or at the very least go back to the UUP and so who knows what way it'll shake out in terms of numbers. 

it’s this nonsense that is sickening a lot of unionists, instead of policies it’s “vote for us or the shinners will be the largest party”personally I don’t give a sh*t anymore, shinners or dup, both useless, and if they do get the first minister post, that’s democracy, do get on with it 

Newryrep wrote: SF 1st minster  - Unionists refuse to take part 'because of the protocol' and hope the BG throw them a bone  - no movement for 6 months they eventually take their seats DUP 1st Minister  - Unionists refuse to take part 'because of the protocol' and hope the BG throw them a bone  - no movement for 6 months they eventually take their seats Take your pick

what happens if alliance come second?

Green Cockade wrote: Unlikely to happen but if it did the current system would not allow Alliance to take the Deputy FM post. Unless, maybe , they designated temporarily as ' unionist' rather than ' other '-there is a precedent for them utilising that maneuver ,albeit in another context.

. 

Edited by colemanY2K - 03 May 2022 at 11:46am

It was ridiculous that show this morning, wouldn't normally listen but caught the start of it today.