By-election :D

Did he actually stand down?

By-election :D

but the people voted for three ulster unionists and three DUP, who would the DUP go to by election when the will of the people is for 3 UUP cllrs?

well i think it will be forced to a by-election.
Im not making the rules ive nothing to do with it.

so you have no opinion on the matter?

I hear he is withdrawing his resignation

Not sure of the legalities here - the Chief Executive accepted his resignation as a CLLR (2001-2005) but it was to late to withdraw his nomination. So at present he is a duly elected Cllr (2005-2009) I think he would have to resign (if you follow)

Is a by-election worth costing the public thousands of pounds?

The money would be better spend on improving the water service or going into the collapsing education system! If the DUP push for a by-election it would be hypocritical of them.

Or not resign?

The UUP/David Archer would mostly likely co-opt someone. However I think this has to be approved by council as a whole.

It could be a costly repeat of the Larne by election last year. The result of the election is clear, 3 UUP 3 DUP, regardless of personel this should continue.

Was the innuendo in the headline deliberate..?

:o0

My info is the UUP has no intention of co-opting someone on for fear of risking a by-election and then a probable loss to the DUP.
Much better for them to let the seat stay vacant than to open up the possibility of losing it do the DUP.
Methinks there is going to be an empty chair in the council chamber in Lisburn for a long time.

Very true. Jeffrey Donaldsons.

Ideally, the best scenario, based on the assumption at David Archer Jnr will not take his seat is that there is co-option.

having worked on the Larne by-election campaign last November it is an embarrassing waste of rate-payers money.

The DUP, have nothing to gain from one extra councillor - they have control of Lisburn City Council by a large margin and they have achieved what they set out to do.

What needs to happen is that the Lagan Valley Ulster Unionist Association internally decide on a candidate who will then be co-opted onto the Council.

Thats the common sense way of doing things...

However i have a sneaking suspicion there are those in the DUP who wish to make life that bit more difficult for Ulster Unionists in Lagan Valley.

Paul Panther

If Archer doesn't attend he will be stripped of his seat so you end up with a co-option/byelection anyway

Anyone heard who the UUP Councillor/Senior Orangeman who is going to defect to the DUP is?

Got to be a by-election and get the 14th DUP man in! No idea who the defector is, but Dr Paisley seemed certain that there would be quite a few! Interesting.

Its very understandable as to why the UUP dont want a by-election - they'll lose. However I do have some sympathy with the costs etc.

Its a shame that the UUP couldnt actually select someone who could have hung around even till the election was over!

They cant just sit around and do nothing because after 6 months (I think) of non-attendance he'd be forced out anyway. I dont think there is any possibility of him taking his seat though.

Also Stephen - the DUP dont have overall control of the council, they only (i say only! haha) have 13 of the 30 seats. However, I'd imagine that we will find out what is going to happen fairly shortly. Perhaps the UUP should allow the co-opion of a DUP member. That way they can get the same result as a by-election would produce and save the ratepayers a few quid to boot!

Doctor Paisley...that always cracks me up, even after all these years.

Perhaps the UUP should allow the co-opion of a DUP member

you're an idiot.

I think 'Gary' should be co-opted onto the council.

At least he would 'rub up' the DUP representatives at council meetings

Whose Gary?.

as the only UUP success in the election surely Archcreep is the obvious next leader?

To give him his full title, it's "Gary (not his real name)". Think he's Paul Berry's mandate, so to speak.

"gary' is at the centre of sexual allegations concerning Paul Berry DUP MLA. He has told his side of the story to the Sunday World and there was a posting on slugger a few weeks back.

David Archer got elected for Lisburn North whereas his father got eliminated from Lisburn South. As David may be facing criminal charges for the alleged incident it may be seen as good will to allow his father to be co-opted in lieu of his son's problems and in losing face etc.

Lisburn South is interesting as it is represented now by Cllr. Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA blah blah bla (Does he not live in Craigavon?) and his nemesis Alderman Ivan Davies OBE along with a few DUP new faces.

Another interesting point is Cllr. Basil McCrea (ex UUP Parliamentary candidate) shall now face his victor in the chamber – that is when he finds the time to turn up.

Peter

Why should David Archer Snr be co-opted in place of his son? He did not stand as a candidate in Lisburn Town North and it's up to people to have their chance who they want in Archer's place. Therefore a by-election is the proper thing for Lisburn Town North.

Also Jeffrey doesn't live in Craigavon, he lives in Dromore but his office is in Lisburn Town South and he knows much about the needs of the area.

Peter
I think you've got your MPs mixed up.

Jeffrey Donalsdon AFAIK lives in Moira - it was David Trimble who lived in Lisburn but represented Craigavon (Not that I actually have a problem with that - the people make their choices).

What about the UUP co-opting a candidate acceptable to the DUP and unionists generally - oops, I forgot they don't do that...

it's up to people to have their chance who they want in Archer's place. Therefore a by-election is the proper thing for Lisburn Town North.

The people had their say last week! They said 3 DUP 3 UUP, Kenneth Armstrong seems he obvious choice to be co-opted.

Would Kenneth Armstrong be generally acceptable to all shades of unionist opinion?