#ni politics

[banrionceallach]

The pettiest thing that annoys me about the Orange order (after, you know, the sectarianism, the misogyny, the whole 'yay colonialism') is those stupid bowler hats. Marching around celebrating William of Orange and all of them dressed like they're cosplaying Mr. Banks from Mary Poppins.

Get some period accurate armour, at the very least. I mean, come on.

[altamont498]

Well we knew this already. Plus, the fact that if you take off sick too many times - even with pre-existing or chronic conditions - in a lot of workplaces it's an express train to unemployment and struggling even more.

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

I just want to write something about the political situation in Northern Ireland- I don’t want to speak for Irish people, but I think it’s important people who live in Britain take an interest and understand what’s going on.

Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland is meant to have devolution, with it’s own parliament. There’s a strict agreement about powersharing between the parties.

In the last 6 years, Northern Ireland has had a functioning parliament for two of them. This is largely due to the DUP blocking the formation of a cabinet that doesn’t serve their interests. The liberal ideal of “just vote” isn’t working.

One of the more recent and significant events are that in 2022, the DUP first minister resigned due to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal- a Brexit deal which very clearly disregarded the Good Friday Agreement, and Northern Ireland in general. This essentially caused the dissolution of the parliament and led to elections in May 2022.

For the first time, Sinn Fein won the most seats, meaning the first minister would be someone from the party. But the DUP were unhappy, and refused to participate in the election of a speaker, meaning the government could not function. Due to the DUP’s behaviour, just like from 2017-2020, there’s currently no NI assembly. And it seems like the DUP know if they just hold out long enough, they’ll force another election.

And presumably they’ll keep doing this until they get the result they want.

People tell us to “just vote”. Well, the people of Northern Ireland did vote, and the party in power refused to relinquish their interests. Meanwhile, catholic republican communities continue to be discriminated against in all sorts of ways- including by the police. The police, furthermore, are a symbol (and a practical force) of Britain’s colonial occupation of Northern Ireland.

Against this backdrop, what other recourse do young Irish people have but violence?

[justanotherbookortwo]

Sunk cost fallacy is so real

[mariemariemaria]

no results for northern ireland at this stage is a joke 😭

[inch-plant]

graffiti found in Belfast

[banrionceallach]

I'm cautiously optimistic about Sinn féin's performance. It can't be ignored that Jeffrey Donaldson being arrested for historical sexual offences weakened and split the DUPs normal vote share somewhat. That probably won't last forever.

Managed to struggle my way on to the train this morning. Sinn Fein is the largest party in Northern Ireland which is interesting and sign of where things are headed.

SNP obviously has taken a hammering which I pretty much expected was going to happen. Time for a bit of reflection on the strategy to date and maybe deciding what comes next.

Joanna Cherry losing her job is good news. Seriously, good riddance.

Douglas Ross lost his seat too, great laugh, racist cunt.

I said this in reply to an ask, but polls show support for independence is stable. Unionists always said that sending SNP MPs to Westminster meant nothing in terms of independence, the same people will now use Labour’s gains to say independence is dead.

They can’t have it both ways.

[atlanticbones]

[seachranaidhe]

Boris Johnson agreed Brexit protocol knowing it was a 'mess', says John Major.

Johnson’s administration made promises over NI deal it knew were unworkable, former PM tells MPs Tuesday 7th February, 2023. John Major has launched a scathing attack on Boris Johnson’s handling of Brexit, saying his administration agreed to NI Protocol the despite knowing it was unworkable.“That must be the first agreement in history that was signed by people who decided it was useless in the…

[rae17reads]

A little light-hearted reread for my winter depression 🩷🖤

[scarefox]

love when BLs come for their countries laws with intense romance plots that lead to

[boarloved-art]

trust and believe the chaser gang's unofficial coworker christmas parties went crazy. qiren goes home after an hour, xichen immediately decides this is the perfect time to get hammered, guangyao is babysitting, wen qing is losing her mind a little bit, yu ziyuan is fighting between Wanting To Leave and Wanting To Outdrink Wuxian, huaisang and mingjue show up at some point and wuxian is too drunk to remember it - which he DOES weep about when wen qing tells him the next day. they have the worlds most british karaoke session. the buffet features mini sausage rolls, cocktail sausages, and a beautiful array of picky bits. mr brightside is playing for 50% of the event.

[exgirlfiend]

you ever think about the fact that they stayed in the past for several days longer than they needed to and it’s very much implied that swaine was the one holding them back. bc I do

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

Not an exhaustive list, but for any Brits who see this, there's expected rioting tonight in:

Cleveland, Thornaby. Likely to be at the mosque in Westbury Street at ~5pm

Durham. Both in the city centre and apparently at the Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

Leicestershire, Coalville. Potentially starting at the clock tower.

Manchester. Potentially the police station in Salford.

Peterborough. Some talk about gathering outside the prison.

Rochdale. Outside the Broadfield Hotel on Sparrow Hill.

Scunthorpe. Reports of it starting at Scunthorpe Museum on Oswald Street moving off to Frodingham Road. Late to posting this as reports said it would start at 12.

Sheffield. The Holiday Inn is a suspected target. I believe it's off of Victoria Station Road.

Stoke-on-Trent. Potentially at the Best Western Hotel on Audley Road.

Also in Northern Ireland, there's expected to be one at Chimney Corner in Belfast, and in Newton Abbey.

[justanotherbookortwo]

the synchronised "oh god no" when edwin poots was nominated for speaker

[hollow-keys]

Been a busy month for the dead Queen's PR LMAOOO I can't believe the Queen was Hamas and the IRA