THE WEEK THAT WAS….
2,721 votes cast out of a total of 673,871 doesn’t seem much. That’s because it’s not. In fact, it’s a paltry 0.4%, but in business and in politics, it’s victory in the margins which can make all the difference.
1,534 votes in East Belfast were all that stood in the way of an impressive overall DUP result which saw the party knock back the UCUNF challenge across Northern Ireland and put the TUV back in its box. In light of the scandals, the brouhaha over Policing & Justice and a European election in which the TUV captured 40% of the DUP vote, many in the party would have settled for a 25% share of the vote. Losing a seat which you’ve held for 31 years and a leader who is regarded as your sharpest political operator does, however, rather take the gloss off.
1,183 votes in South Antrim and four votes in Fermanagh & South Tyrone were all that stood in the way of a decent performance for the UUP’s ‘brave new world’ with the Tories and political calamity.
Two seats would have allowed a rejuvenated Reg to welcome the dawn of a new way of doing politics in Northern Ireland. He could even have been contemplating the prospect of a Jnr Ministry in Westminster. Instead, like Robinson, he’ll be spending his time contemplating the sun setting on a career which has spanned forty years. It’s an unforgiving business and there’s the finest of lines between been viewed as a political whizz kid and a political numpty.
Indeed, in an ironic twist it’s a veritable triumvirate of gloom for all Unionist leaders with the TUV’s Jim Allister polling poorly in North Antrim and left wondering if there’s a role left for his brand of Unionism.
Alliance, Sinn Fein and the SDLP can all, however, sit back and bathe in some well earned political sunshine. With a hung parliament nationally though, there must be a strong possibility of a Westminster re-run before the Assembly elections next year. Don’t get too excited – sequels never tend to be as good.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Oral Answers
The DCAL Minister discussed making school sporting facilities more accessible to local communities and made it clear that there will be no additional funding for his upcoming minority languages strategy. Over at Education the Minister was rounded on from across the political spectrum over the school build programme, particularly the dilatory replacement of Whitehouse PS in North Belfast. She did, however, announce a further £3m for free school meals.
The DEL Minister outlined his steps to tackle both graduate unemployment and NEETs, and defended his record on promoting STEM subjects, despite their falling popularity.
Written Answers
Another slow week for Questions, but OFMDFM revealed that running costs for the NSMC Executive were £645K, DCAL is reviewing funding for sports clubs named after those with criminal convictions while Education noted that of the 2,894 pupils in Irish-medium schools just five are from the Protestant community.
DETI estimated that there are 43,000 workers born overseas working in Northern Ireland and revealed that they’ve set aside £100K to market the Titanic’s centenary. DoE disclosed that the CEO of Newry City Council is the second highest paid in the Province (picking up between £110K – £120K pa) while Health noted the average Doctor’s income was £91K. 31 people are being electronically tagged in Foyle according to Justice.
COMMITTEES
No Statutory Committee meetings were held this week.
AND FINALLY….
In case you missed it, Stormont actually did sit for a day this week, not that anyone noticed, bothered or cared. The Members were, however, getting rather worked up about waste, reserving some of their harshest criticism for litterbugs.
The Assembly may have debated murder, child abuse, human rights abuses and drug dealers, but nobody is apparently as bad as the “parasites and scumbags” who pebbledash our streets with chewing gum and general detritus.
Glad to know that while the streets of Greece are burning and the markets are plunging our legislators haven’t lost their sense of perspective….
