Jim Wells – Slugger O'Toole

Jim Wells endorses TUV candidate…

Brian O'Neill on April 12, 2022, 9:49 am

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Jim Wells is giving the DUP another headache by endorsing Harold McKee of the TUV against his own party’s candidate. In a dramatic intervention in the Assembly election in South Down, outgoing DUP MLA, Jim Wells, has declared his support for the TUV candidate, Harold McKee.https://t.co/lIIMf1RJIo — Love Ballymena (@LoveBallymena) April 12, 2022 The move is likely to result in him being expelled from the DUP but it looks like he will find a new home in the TUV. [Edit: …

Sammy Wilson gets a frosty reception at Markethill rally…

Brian O'Neill on February 19, 2022, 9:54 am

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Normally a populist crowd-pleaser to the Unionist faithful, Sammy Wilson got a very bad reception at the Markethill Anti NI Protocol rally last night. More footage of Sammy Wilson DUP MP getting booed and jeered at Markethill…if this is anything to go by they are in for a rough election! Notable that Donaldson who app cancelled last min would have likely had an even worse reception over latest ‘betrayal’ of communities 😬 pic.twitter.com/FLieZIqmY2 — Carla Lang (@CarlaLangNI) February 19, 2022 …

Jim Wells says he would consider running against the DUP…

Brian O'Neill on February 1, 2022, 11:39 am

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Veteran politician Jim Wells is not going quietly into the night. He is making noises that he might run against the DUP in South Down. He has not said if he will run as an independent or for another Unionist party. In the 2017 Assembly elections, he got 7,786 first preference votes. I am terrible at maths so I will leave the more numerate commenters to discuss how this might affect the seats. Table from Wikipedia. He is a canny …

Christians should support the right to life by get vaccinated…

Terry Maguire on July 30, 2021, 7:22 am

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vaccine, coronavirus, medical

Perhaps it’s me, but I just couldn’t see where Jim Wells was coming from in a recent Belfast Telegraph article on his views of Covid vaccines. Here’s Jim as reported in the Tele which might give some sense of why I was confused. “It is not an anti-vaccine issue it is an ethical issue. I have had a large number of Christians who have said to me: ‘Look we are not opposed to vaccines and are not into these conspiracy …

Peter Robinson speaks to Nolan about Jim Wells comments

David McCann on April 11, 2018, 12:42 pm

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Just a quick catch up on this story; Mr Wells accused party leader Arlene Foster of not standing by him. “Peter Robinson made the commitment that I would return,” the South Down MLA said. “Then Arlene took over as leader and Arlene, as leader of the party officers, ignored my two written requests for that commitment to be honoured,” he added. Former DUP Leader Peter Robinson spoke to Nolan today about the topic which is worth a listen and analysis …

Jim Wells statement on family connections and RHI

Mick Fealty on January 21, 2017, 1:16 pm

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Interesting statement from Jim Wells today. For context, his relatives appear to have been associated with a huge expansion in capacity by Moypark (an economic success story). Moypark had previously announced an expansion of some 400 new chicken houses, most of which you would guess, are taking advantage of the local RHI scheme just as their growers in Britain still do. ‘Today I received information from a relative which indicated that four members of my family have installed wood pellet …

Jenny Palmer: Betrayed by the DUP

The Firemen on May 20, 2015, 10:00 am

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Yesterday was not a good day for the DUP. First was the verdict on the Ashers ‘gay cake’ case – an issue that seems to have become inextricably linked to the DUP thanks to the support from figures within the party. Paul Givan appeared on television shortly afterwards to give his ‘verdict‘ on the actual verdict. Mr. Givan also committed to pursue his doomed conscience clause. Then came last night’s compelling BBC NI Spotlight programme on Jenny Palmer; the ‘whistleblower’ who …

NI health minister: will someone think of the service?

Turgon on May 4, 2015, 8:05 pm

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The DUP seem to have had a bit of a problem with Health Ministers. Despite health and personal social services being the largest department by spending, it is actually unlikely that they wanted it. It is unlikely anyone wanted the ministry and it was the penultimate one chosen. At some level the DUP can be given credit that they did not take Higher Education and leave Alliance with the baby but the number of recesses etc. which were held during …

It’s resignation Jim, but not as we know it

Patricia MacBride on April 28, 2015, 9:18 am

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So Jim Wells has tendered his resignation. There’s something in the back of my mind about Peter Robinson threatening to resign before and withdrawing the threat when the storm had passed. Maybe I’m jumping too far ahead, though… A lot of commentators and journalists are proffering the opinion that the post-dated resignation is to allow for the outcome of the Westminster election and that Jonathan Bell, the current Junior Minister in OFMDFM, is the favourite to take up the health …

Post-damage-limitation, challenge for DUP is not whether they choose to change, but how they choose to change

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 27, 2015, 10:23 am

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The boil has been lanced. To borrow from Oscar Wilde: “To become the news story once during an election campaign may be regarded as a misfortune; to do it twice in a week over the same issue looks like carelessness.” NI Executive ministers rarely resign. If it hadn’t been in the middle of an election campaign, I doubt that Jim Wells would have had to inform the First Minister of his intention to stand down from his post as Minister …

Jim Wells resigns as Health Minister

Turgon on April 27, 2015, 7:25 am

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The BBC are reporting that Jim Wells has resigned as health minister following his remarks at the canvassing event in South Down and a further bizarre episode whilst canvassing in Rathfriland. Wells has issued a statement on the DUP website explaining the stress his wife’s illness has caused and explaining his resignation. TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.

Jim Wells: Has he damaged the DUP? UPDATED

The Firemen on April 24, 2015, 9:47 pm

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Any hopes that the DUP had that last night’s ill-judged comments by Health Minister Jim Wells would be quickly forgotten appear to be fast receding. If anything the ‘apology’ by Mr. Wells betrays ignorance on the part of the Health Minister more than anything else. Sadly the PSNI have now confirmed that they are now investigating comments made by Mr. Wells’ – perhaps the new laws suggested by the Ulster Fry would be more appropriate. UPDATE: Tonight (Sunday April 26th, 2015) …

Perscription Charges Consultation: Is Wells biting the bullet?

David McCann on February 17, 2015, 12:16 pm

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The Health Minister, Jim Wells rose in the Assembly today to announce a consultation on the funding of certain prescription drugs. The Minister, calmly and in a very affable manner set out the difficulties his department faces in funding drugs to combat cancer. Wells argued that he is in an impossible position with increasing costs on one side and increasing demand on the other forcing him to make more and more difficult decisions in the area of what drug the …

Alcohol Pricing…on the up and up

Kris Nixon (Belfast Barman) on December 3, 2014, 3:48 pm

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Taken at face value, I completely agree with Jim Wells. Taken at face value, I completely agree with Jim Wells…sorry, I had to write that again to make sure it wasn’t an autocorrect. Minimum pricing for alcohol is a sensible idea, I have long agreed that the off-sales industry with specific reference to supermarkets are the root of the problems faced in society by alcohol. Unfortunately, minimum pricing is against the law. When a bad news story such as Joby …

Smoked eggs and Currie

The Firemen on October 31, 2014, 7:56 pm

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On October 22nd 2014 Health Minister Jim Wells spoke at a meeting of the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety and was there, as stated by Chairperson Maeve McLaughlin in her introduction, to “to give evidence on the terms of reference for the Committee’s review of the departmental approach to the Budget”. All was going swimmingly with much discussion of priorities for 2015-16, budgetary constraints, ‘Transforming Your Care’, Ebola, revenue generation, efficiencies and potential savings until THAT moment. …

#BlockedbyWells ?

The Firemen on September 24, 2014, 10:23 am

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Only hours into the job and new DUP Health Minister Jim Wells is already a big hit on social media. Hundreds of Twitter users reported that they had been blocked by Wells as they attempted to either follow or interact with his Twitter account. The hashtag #blockedbywells was soon trending across Northern Ireland. Many of the ‘blocks’ were prompted by users asking awkward questions of the Minister’s controversial …

Talking without listening and victory without annihilation

Turgon on February 2, 2014, 3:40 pm

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Mick has covered the criminalisation of users of prostitution debate and the spat between Dr. Graham Ellison and Jim Wells ain the Stormont committee below. I thought there might be some merit in looking at what this shows about the DUP’s view of itself, others views of it and how the DUP deals with these sorts of issues. This episode seems to be a case of two sides talking without listening. I am not going to enter into the merits …

Unregistered interests: ca. 50% of MLAs don’t declare £150 payments from Lobbyist Company?

Blank on June 30, 2011, 5:34 pm

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There are lots of interesting little details in the Assembly Register of Member’s Interests. Two MLAs being paid a small sum for filling in surveys isn’t one of them: Miscellaneous Interests Jim Wells and Paul Givan Stratagem Northern Ireland: a survey company which occasionally surveys the views of MLAs on a wide range of issues. A fee of £50.00 is payable for each survey completed. You can find the results of numerous Stratagem surveys of MLAs online but details of …

Hyperlocal blogging the election #ae11 #sdo11

Patrick Corrigan on April 12, 2011, 12:46 pm

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Assembly election coverage #sdo11 hyperlocal-style is up and running on newcastlerocks, with hustings coverage, runners and riders analysis, and the first of a few interviews with South Down candidates focusing their hopes on the electorate in and around Newcastle. There’s one with Sinn Féin’s Willie Clarke online and another, just-posted interview with Jim Wells of the DUP, whom I met while out canvassing the town’s Tullybrannigan Road area last evening. One of the blog’s followers responded to my twitpic (@newcastle_rocks) from …