Stakeholder

Well this was always going to be an election that changed much or nothing. The verdict on the British election is that the public wanted change but not necessarily the Tories. The sponsors of ‘project’ Cameron have to be disappointed if after five years of saying nothing about policy and looking good on a bike; the Tory leader failed to fan the flames for an expected Labour meltdown. The meltdown did not happen and there was n’t a Portillo moment- though it would have been sweet to say good bye to Harriett Harman.

It is inevitable that whatever about the on-going political shenanigans between the parties- Gordon Brown – the Frank Spencer of British politics- is toast.

In Northern Ireland the election turnout is starting to show a worrying downward trend and while that is probably a sign of normality; it also proves the electorate was turned off by political sleaze and probably wished a plague on all political parties by staying at home.

But the elections were exciting even for those who are not political anoraks. 

Firstly the celebrity factor did not work. Ringland, Mc Kinney and Nesbitt did n’t capture the public imagination. It will be interesting to see if they can muster the political stickablity needed for a period in the wilderness.

The UUP/Conservative initiative was probably the most expensive political cock up ever. What started out as a good idea in principle (and with some promise) descended into farce with a shambolic selection process; a senseless round of secret talks with the DUP and the ignominy of a pluralist idea being brought down by pressure from the Orange Order for a sectarian pact in Fermanagh/Tyrone. This Union never got properly consummated. It probably never got past the posting of the banns. The result: an embarrassing and fatal blow to the political career of one of Northern Ireland’s most decent politicians, Sir Reg Empey. Harsh as it sounds, Sir Reg’s leadership has bitten the dust.

Of course, the big surprise of the elections was the exit of Peter Robinson. The fifteen hundred odd votes that ‘did for him’ distracted from an otherwise successful election for a scandal haunted DUP. This was a personal rather than political defeat. Robinson’s career as a front-line politician is damaged. The Gospel singing DUP country and western set will try to undermine the moral authority of his leadership. Politics is an unforgiving sport.

If Sir Reg is embarrassed and Peter demoralised; the TUV Leader must be in a state of apoplexy. The ‘whole lot of P45s’ did not materialise and his 70,000 votes drifted from the North like volcanic ash.

Yet the real story of our elections is about ‘girl-power’.

Naomi Long is Alliances greatest asset. She is a congenial and street smart politician. She is a colourful personality outshining her dreary and colourless leader. Her slaying of Peter Robinson is akin to the political phenomena of the thoroughly decent and popular Dr Joe Hendron’s victory over Gerry ‘I repeat, was never in the IRA’ Adams in 1992. That the fall of the House of Robinson was initially caused by the lady of that House; it is rather poetic that another woman should deliver the final blow.

Then of course, there is the delightful Lady Sylvia Hermon who stood alone against the madness of an Indian summer brought about by the Tory/Unionist link up and who romped home in North Down with charm and political guile!

Fermanagh/South Tyrone was a belter and by the narrowest of margins, the popular Agriculture Minister, Michelle Gildernew took the final seat for Sinn Fein. She was put into a sectarian cauldron by the mid-wifery skills of the Orange Order. Many nationalists will be glad to see her returned –even if she wastes the win through abstentionism.

The main winner of the Northern Ireland elections is Margaret Ritchie. Twelve weeks into her leadership, it appeared to be an uphill struggle to maintain the three SDLP seats; especially the marginal seat of South Belfast. She need not have feared. Five years of sterling constituency service and Dr Al more than delivered the goods in South Belfast. Secondly, her cross community appeal and forthrightness comfortably maintained the Mc Grady legacy in South Down.   After the count, a defeated Catastrophic Ruane- another failed Adam’s babe- looked as if she was stung by a wasp. Eleanor Roosevelt may be right ‘Women are like tea bags; you can never tell how strong they are until you put them in hot water.’ a point well proven by this election.