can anyone tell/explain to me why in the world Eileen Paisley would evn be considered for a peerage? Is it just to get her out of the kitchen?

more to give her a break from Ian I think...

Dessertspoon - I was also tempted to say that but decided against for fear of my posting being removed!

LOL. Never thought of that but I don't think that's offensive. It's just that many spouses can benefit from a little time apart sometimes. I would have thought anyone having a husband or wife in Politics in Norn Iron would deserve a lot more than a peerage but I'm not sure how the DUP leadership would sainthood.

Andrew Hunter didn't fight for re-election. He just stood down. I havn't heard either of these names mentioned but that doesn't mean they arn't being considered.

Afew names I have heard are Morris Morrow and possibly Martin Smyth..

Someone who really deserves a peerage for his long work in belfast city council is Harry Toan. Does anyone else agree with me on that.

I would appreciate anyonelse's ideas on this topic..

Enniskillen DUP

"long work"

Harry Toan only served a single term in Belfast City Council (although granted he was a very active worker).

One to Bob McCartney might be a sensible polticial move. Des Boal's name has been floated but unlikely if he is still keen on the idea of a federal ireland.

Harry Toan is best known for a 2002 council junket to England when he refused to sit on the same plane as Joe O'Donnell.
The council had to book him onto a later flight.
He also had a scuffle with Reg Empey on the Albertbridge Road at the beginning of the year. The hand-bags at ten paces was reported in the East Belfast Observer

Enniskillen DUP,

A peerage for Harry Toan etc,

Me thinks you are extracting the urine, a habit which as we all know is normally the preserve of Fermanagh Unionist. Mr.Toan might still be a Councillor if is wasn't for the fact that he spent all of the last eighteen months huffing cause he failed to get elected in Nov'03.

Whatever next Enniskillen DUP............
Ah yes I know, Dame Ruth Patterson!

I rather suspect her only chance will be via an appearance in the xmas panto at the Opera House!

The Gent,

Leave Ruth Patterson out of this please...
I don't have any experience in dealing with Harry Toan but I know that Ruth has done amazing things for the people of the Donegall Rd.

Ruth has done loads of work for people in South Belfast.
Just ask the residents of Whitehall Sqaure ("If you don't like loyalist flags flying outside your homes you should move to the Republic") and the Chinese community ("I don't want to see a Chinese Community Centre in Donegall Pass or anywhere else for that matter").
But then again she can be all-inclusive, speaking Irish when she launched the 2004 Irish Dancing Championships in the Europa Hotel.
I hear she's got designs on being the next Lord Mayor. God help us, she will be a bigger embarassment than Eric Smyth.

Paul,

I think the public have gave their verdict on the work of the DUP in South Belfast. Gains in both laganbank and balmoral. Quite different that of your friend Stoifan Long IRA in Balmoral.

I was sitting in a city centre coffee shop yesterday and overheard Nelson Mc Causland MLA and Cllr Elaine Mc Millen talking on this very topic.

Some name at HQ level being discussed are William Hay MLA, Mildred Garfield and I also heard Harry Tosh.

Blackstaff,

Ruth doing amazing things etc,

The people of Donegall Road don't seem to think so as her vote went down between 2001 - 2005, (1377 - 1130). Given her high profile over recent years Assembly Candidate, High Sherriff etc, begs the question why she fared so poorly, compared to the other DUP candidate, who out polled a high profile sitting Councillor!

Any truth in the rumour that during the count when she thought she would lose her seat, she stormed off home in a temper threatening to resign from the DUP, only to be told later to return to City Hall as she had pipped Esmond Birnie by 0.95 of a vote on transfers, and would therefore get elected?

Personally I can't wait for her to be Lord Mayor, so that we can all see further examples of her mature enlightened views and attitude!

fair_deal - I didn't realise Dessie Boal was still alive! Do you have any info on what he's up to these days - are he and Paisley still in touch?

I'd love Sideshow Bob to be given a peerage. Maybe David Vance is also in the running?

Elvis

I know he is still about but know nothing of who he is or isn't in touch with

Was it Ruth Patterson who invited the PUP to her inaugral dinner, but refused to invite Sinn Fein? There was, IIRC, some excuse about not knowing about any connection between the UVF and PUP, although Ruth was obviously more au fait with the SF/IRA connections.

Then there was the time someone was attacked in the Village. Ruth was good enough to condemn it, but I doubt she impressed many when she noted that it was particularly unjustified as the victim wasn't Catholic or an immigrant.

Ruth, it should be noted, sits (chairs?) on the South Belfast Partnership's round table on racism - which might surprise those who read her comments concerning a Chinese resource centre in Belfast. Ruth, who is only elected to represent south Belfast, saw fit to tell us that there would never be a Chinese centre in South Belfast - or any part of Belfast.

It's not often I agree with Brian Feeney, but when he described Ruth as "not the sharpest tool in the box" I found myself nodding.

As did a few Belfast city councillors too, who've experienced Ruth's rather naive contributions to local politics. I remember hearing of how the poor woman sat with her head in her hands after she realised the stupidity of some comments she had just made in public (can't remember which particular comment, but will dig it out if challenged).

Come on Gonzo,

Don't tease let's have it?