British government

RTE’s celebration of John Hume feels like nostalgia for a time that has gone

Brian Walker on August 7, 2018, 8:59 pm | Readers 2300

RTE have just screened a documentary In the Name of Peace; John Hume in America by Maurice Fitzpatrick which the film maker has kindly drawn to my attention. Being in London I cannot access it yet nor have I read his accompanying book. But from the YouTube trail, this is a major celebration of John Hume’s life and work. Anybody who was anybody is in it, led by Clinton and Blair, although Jimmy Carter was not quite so dazzled. As …

British Government rule out Joint Authority

David McCann on September 5, 2017, 10:46 pm | Readers 2550

This is what Simon Coveney’s predecessor, Patrick Hillery would have a called a “courteous brush off.” David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Kearney “Together the DUP and British government currently represent an anti-equality axis”

David McCann on April 16, 2017, 3:41 pm | Readers 2903

Sinn Fein Chairperson, Declan Kearney made an address today to the Derry and Antrim Easter commemoration in the Loup, County Derry. In his remarks he put the blame for progress in the talks on the DUP and the British government. I have highlighted a key passage. The DUP and British government remain in denial that the political landscape has changed. They both refuse to ‘get it’. “The last two phases of talks show no evidence they are serious about resolving the …

O’Neill criticises DUP & British Government; warns about another election

David McCann on April 10, 2017, 2:59 pm | Readers 3494

The Sinn Fein Leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill gave a bleak assessment today over where we are politically. Taking aim at the DUP and the British government she criticised their approach towards the talks; “We have been here five weeks during which time Sinn Féin has been fully engaged. We believe in the institutions and we have been working to restore them and to rebuild public confidence in them. “However, to date there has been no measurable progress. And at …

David Beresford hunger strike journalist and historian, RIP

Brian Walker on April 23, 2016, 10:31 am | Readers 887

The best journalists are often oddballs. They can win close access to power, regardless of whether power is of the state or anti -state variety. They lack – and often spurn – status. They tend to walk alone and barely recognise dress codes. Perhaps their greatest quality is persistence against the odds, in which courage and ego play equal parts. If they have to, they skirt round or quietly ignore the rules of the institutions they work for and …

Growth and the ‘subvention’

Soapbox on November 12, 2015, 5:02 pm | Readers 1865

Economist Michael Burke writes for us on the British government subvention to Northern Ireland. The economic case for Irish unity is a growth story; that people across the whole of the island would be substantially better off. So, as the author of a recent report, the Economic Case for Irish Unity I was disappointed but not surprised to find that most commentary on it related to the issue of the ‘subvention’. Apparently, supporters of the Union want to make the …

Assembly reform without real change in political outlook means little

Brian Walker on December 16, 2014, 6:53 pm | Readers 1044

The reform ideas for the beleaguered Stormont Assembly disclosed by the BBC are well intentioned. but they’re the wrong treatment on the wrong diagnosis, as the disease is the failure of our politicians to work together effectively. Note that they’re being put forward by the British government five months ahead of the deadline of May set for the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to produce reform agreements. Westminster is at last showing a little initiative. On subject after subject – …

Martina Anderson: The days of the British State granting impunity to its own are coming to an end

Soapbox on November 10, 2014, 5:00 pm | Readers 2647

Following on from a conference organised by the University of Ulster on victims and dealing with the past, Sinn Fein’s MEP, Martina Anderson writes for Slugger arguing for a new focus on the British states involvement in the Troubles and how it deals with victims. On the 27th and 28th Feb 2014 I invited a delegation of victims of state violence to Brussels to discuss with MEPs the impact of state collusion under the heading ‘Britain’s Dirty War in Ireland’. The deep …

If you want an excuse to bring the house down, you’ve got one now

Brian Walker on February 26, 2014, 2:39 pm | Readers 67

It’s too much to hope for that politicians should act with restraint over the Downey debacle. It gives them a heaven sent opportunity to jump up and down. Look, at one level the Downey case is an obvious anomaly. He was wanted. He wasn’t not wanted. Unless you think that the 180 letters were a cynical ploy to let any old warriors off the hook at random. Why stop at 180 republicans? But the core problem is not the one exposed …

From Arkiv to Haaas. A way out of the deadlock for dealing with the past

Brian Walker on October 30, 2013, 10:36 am | Readers 97

It’s heart warming to find some of the ideas I’ve been grappling with being taken forward with real authority and integrity. As reported in the Newsletter a firm and positive set of proposals for dealing with the past has been submitted to the Haass talks by a group of historians calling themselves Arkiv. The idea that dealing with the past is a task that can be agreed and dispatched within a given period is not simply an insult to the …

The Glenanne story proves the time for frank admissions is overdue: further prevarication over collusion implies Briitsh government cover-up

Brian Walker on October 24, 2013, 11:40 am | Readers 2609

Like most of the atrocities of the Troubles the story of the Glenanne gang isn’t unfamiliar Suzanne Breen for one gave a detailed account of the 1976 Kingmills and Reavey brothers massacres in January 2011 based it would seem on “ imminent” HET reports. Of the Reavey murders she stated as a matter of established fact: The attack was carried out by the UVF’s infamous Glenanne gang, which operated in a murder triangle between south Armagh and mid-Ulster. Made up of …

The omni shambles and Labour’s difficulty capatilising

Turgon on April 28, 2012, 3:52 pm | Readers 63

The omni shambles which is the current government seems to continue. I mentioned the disaster which was the budget and the spin surrounding it recently. Jeremy Hunt and his special advisor have yet again shone a spotlight on the relationship between Rupert Murdock’s media empire and politicians (though of course the Tories were far from the only political party with close links to News International – take a bow Alex Salmond). It has been suggested that Hunt is being kept …

So what’s the formula for a referendum, Owen?

Brian Walker on February 6, 2012, 4:31 pm | Readers 59

Jamie Smyth the new (to me ) correspondent of the Financial Times has managed to win some space for an interview with Owen Paterson (£ sadly) who takes whatever wind there might have been out of Martin McGuinness’s kite for a united Ireland referendum. Part of the draught perhaps from the Scottish referendum campaign Graham Walker has drawn attention to, as posted by Mick. “For people in the north there is a real worry on the economic front. I think there …