Last night, only three Conservative MPs voted with Labour against the deregulation of Sunday trading "for the duration of the Olympics", while another four abstained.
But the DUP voted against. A socially conservative party committed to plenty of government action and public spending, just so long as its own voters get some of it. And why not?
But the DUP voted against. A socially conservative party committed to plenty of government action and public spending, just so long as its own voters get some of it. And why not?
The SDLP already takes the Labour Whip. Labour should offer it and the DUP a Ministerial position each at the Northern Ireland Office, Minister of State to the larger and Under-Secretary to the smaller, in return for their support.
That alliance would in turn check and balance the Labour front bench most usefully, keeping it faithful to those who are going to elect the coming Labour Government: social conservatives committed to plenty of government action and public spending, just so long as they and their communities get some of it. And why not?
That alliance would in turn check and balance the Labour front bench most usefully, keeping it faithful to those who are going to elect the coming Labour Government: social conservatives committed to plenty of government action and public spending, just so long as they and their communities get some of it. And why not?
As a member of SDLP from 1973 to 1982 (in West Belfast and Fermanagh South Tyrone) and again from August 2011 to date, I can say without any hesitation that the SDLP would never accept a Ministry under Labour.Fair weather friends it has to be said. With the honourable exception of Stan Orme, it was Labour Ministers at the NIO who were always more difficult for the SDLP to deal with. Don Concannon from Mansfield, Roy Mason of course and Ray Carter were easily the worst. I recall the latter telling SDLP that the Workers Party were going to gain seats. In fact he lost his own seat in Birmingham.
ReplyDeleteThe SDLP cannot have any problem supporting Labour......as indeed the SNP and Plaid do ......but taking a Ministry in a country (as we would see it) where we have no interest would undermine the very purpose of Nationalism. To put it in another way, there would be no purpose in advocating that the British should disengage from Norn Iron while attempting to engage more than strictly necessary at Westminster.
At least three SDLP retired MPs have been offered a peerage and at least one other SDLP figure has been offered a peerage. None have taken it. No SDLP member has sat there. (Gerry Fitt having lost his seat as a "Socialist" notwithstanding). Nuala O'Loan a former Police Ombudsman here is in the Lords and she is married to a prominent SDLP politician but she is an English lady.Home Counties I think.
The SDLP has always had a minimalist attitude to Westminster.......except.......it is alleged.... in the House of Commons bars.
While the SDLP certainly is a coalition of lefties (Im guilty), nationalists (also guilty) and "catholic" (guilty) and republican (guilty) strands, it would just not make any sense philosophically or electorally to take a ministerial post.
The Labour Party has always let the SDLP down.
But I will......with your permission.......write a blog about that idea. It is......so far as I am aware......a unique suggestion.
http://fitzjameshorselooksattheworld.wordpress.com/
But that was all a very long time ago now. This could be the last way of saving the SDLP, of giving it something to do.
ReplyDeleteFigures such as Roy Mason took the Civil Rights movement entirely at face value, enacted equality legislation and so on, and then dealt with any security threat precisely as a security threat. As with so many things, it was starting to work until the 1979 Election came along.
It would be the SDLP's loss if it declined an offer such as this, especially since its MPs would still be taking the Labour Whip anyway, something that in fact has made it by far the most integrationist party from Northern Ireland since ever since the UUP stopped taking the Tory Whip, 40 years ago. Even Bob McCartney, though he wanted the Labour Whip and functioned for most purposes as he had it, never actually received it.
The DUP would take up this offer. So there would be the SDLP MPs, who are perfectly happy to swear the Oath and who therefore cannot have any consistent objection in principle to accepting either Ministerial office or seats in another place, allowing themselves to be whipped into voting for policies informed by the DUP but not, entirely by their own choice, by themselves. Would they really be prepared to make themselves that ridiculous? Would they really be prepared to serve their electors so ill?
By all means. I should be honoured.
Thank you. I was thinking that perhaps you might want to write it yourself as a "guest post".
ReplyDeleteI say this because my own views are perhaps too well known and most of my readership are SDLP (although they are a little shy on commenting.
As I am almost 60 years old, the 1970s appear like yesterday but I cant really concur with your view of History.
Roy Mason is actually quite interesting. When he was appointed Secretary of State, we were kinda comforted that the bluff Yorkshire miner would be on our side but he was a total disappointment.
I dont know how many of the SDLP MPs you have met but Ive met them all past and present and to describe them as "perfectly happy" at the oath is stretching things a little. Its merely (in our view) that which is necessary to be representing people.
For a nationalist (leaving aside the electoral implications) there is no merit in serving Britain. And to be consistent the SDLP would obviously want self determination for England. And Scotland. And Wales.
I would perhaps have shared your concern about the SDLP being in decline. Prior to August 2011 certainly. Signing me up again has made all the difference to their fortunes. LOL
Im not going to say that there is a revival of sorts as it would clearly fall into the category of "he would say that wouldnt he?" but perhaps the key here is that the two other Parties on either side of SDLP (Alliance and Sinn Féin) have just stopped being "lucky". Dont underestimate "Luck".
Of course it is all much more nuanced than any "comment" here can do justice. Its all ebb and flow.good Days. bad Days but just in the past few months more "good" tha "bad".
You have been fed this one to float, haven't you? Same with the one about finding Independents for Labour to back in Lib Dem heartlands. Not many people read either your blog or your books. But all the right people do.
ReplyDeleteDo email me - davidaslindsay@hotmail.com
ReplyDelete