So lets see it was all the fault of
the IRA
The SDLP (steven king threw them in last night)
the Government
the Irish Government
his opponents within the party
and now the PUBLIC

Anyway apart from himself he doesn't blame?

I don't think it did Trimble any favours, certainly not the way it was shown on the news this morning anyway.

I don't see why he needed to say there was a change in public opinion though, the election results already told us that! But wise up, you can't say he was blaming the public just because he said there was a change in public opinion! In fact it sounds from the OP that he was laying the blame for that change in opionion largely with the government and republicans - and to some extent that's true.

Trimble may have made mistakes (and some day there may even be an informed debate on what these were), but his critics detract from their own arguments by jumping on every statement and twisting it round into something it's not, just to demonise him.

The 'shift in opinion' was the Unionist electorate clearly changing their minds and saying that they no longer trusted David Trimble/UUP in negotiations with the British govt., the Irish govt., SF and the SDLP.

Mr Trimble may have been genuine in his motives, but he was gullible to the extreme. Last year's talks between the DUP and SF showed that Unionists do not always have to be giving, and getting nothing in return.

Beano

His and his party's persistent breach of electoral commitments had nothing to do with the public losing confidence in him and his party and switching their vote?

6countyprod,

I think the DUP gave away more than you think.

Read the Comprehensive Agreement!

Look at N/S Bodies and the Parliamentary forum.

The Parliamentary forum was in the Belfast Agreement, yes. BUT this was pushed by Sinn Fein onto the agenda. The DUP promised to bring it onto the agenda once in power. It lay to rest under the Belfast Agreement.

And above all the DUP where willing to go into government and share power with Sinn Fein again.

Former political leaders always diminish themselves by trying to re-fight old battles. Take a break David. You've earned it. Let history judge you. You won't do badly at all.

I agree Henry.

Henry94

Well said. I agree entirely.

With this level of consensus Slugger's days are numbered ;)

apologies to WS, but it seems we come not to bury Trimble but to praise him ;)

Speak for yourself Davros - aaahhh disharmony returns ;)

I'm agreeing as well - we might get a record number of people in harmony on Slugger

Where's stalford when you need him? Probably off helping a constituent how inconsiderate.

Where's stalford when you need him? Probably off helping a constituent how inconsiderate.

Chris Gaskin promised to ring him with his problems ...

"apologies to WS, but it seems we come not to bury Trimble but to praise him ;)"

Huh?

D'oh, I get it now. Silly me was wondering what I'd said. Ah, that WS...

Anyone care to comment on Stephen King's red trousers on Spotlight?

Famous speach in Sheakespeare's Julius Caesar.

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones.
So let it be with Caesar."

only it seems the other way round here :)

Et tu, Jeffre?

LOL Warm Storage :)

Visioner

The SDLP and Sinn Fein previously regarded the North South Parliamentary Forum as so important that it never became an issue until Alliance proposed a motion in the last Assembly calling for its implementation.

AFAIK, the SDLP and Sinn Fein had never taken an interest in the implementation of this all-Ireland body before that...

It could be a handy possible concession to nationalists in some future negotiations to take the bad look of whatever the DUP gets... it's all-Ireland, but its lack of initial powers will mean it will be something unionists can stomach, although not quietly, I would imagine.

Gonzo,

You and "Belfast Gonzo" one and the same? Just for clarification, mate. :)

Let's not be too kind to Trimble. Apart from a peerage, he has the £250,000 Nobel money which he didn't see fit to disburse to any local charity.

Yes. I think that the DUP vote was in part an 'up yours' to SFPIRA given their prevarication over their GFA commitments. Many votes could well come back to the UUP if a deal came soon enough, when the scope for an ultra prod 'protest' vote would be cut back.