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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Concern in Northern Ireland as Cameron ushers in new Tory era

Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 12:12 AM

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Tory leader David Cameron will take the keys to 10 Downing Street after a British election that left the three major parties in an extended stalemate.

Tories have rarely been good news for Ireland and Irish America, and it remains to be seen if the Cameron era will be all that different.

We all remember the awful days under Margaret Thatcher, especially in Northern Ireland, when her stance on the hunger strikes led to a massive reaction within nationalism that Sinn Fein rode all the way to power.

Then there was ex-Prime Minister John Major, who was a big improvement but still dallied far too long when the Irish peace process was underway, and prevented a much speedier resolution of major issues such as decommissioning by refusing to budge on his unreasonable demands.

Little is known about Cameron other than the classic high Tory Eton and Oxford background and the privileged life that he has lived up to now.

He has already dirtied his bib on the North, allowing his Northern Irish spokesman Owen Paterson to hold secret talks in January at Hatfield House in England involving the two main Ulster Unionist parties and the Tories.

The fact that his party was so willing to break the consensus under Labor that the British government try to act in a neutral fashion when it came to Northern Ireland was much commented on at the time.

These talks prompted speculation that the Tories were attempting to create a pan-Unionist group to oppose Sinn Fein and the SDLP in the general election of 2010.

As it turned out, the Tories will not need the Ulster Unionist votes, as their liaison with the Liberal Democrats means that they will have a sufficient majority in the Commons.

However, there is no way that Patterson should be Northern Ireland secretary after such an outrageous and one sided act.

How will he have any credibility with Northern Ireland Nationalists after such a move? Surely Cameron will think better than putting him back into a job he has already disqualified himself from?

Sure, the position of northern secretary is no longer the central job it was since Northern Ireland now has its own elected government. But there are very important issues such as the finances promised by soon to be ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown to help that government.

Cameron stated during the election campaign that Northern Ireland was one of the regions where the subvention from central government had to be looked at.

That was surely bad news for Northern Ireland, and it remains to be seen if Cameron decides to follow up on it.

He will have his hands full in a plunging economy and with prospects bleak for a quick recovery.

This is by no means a safe and secure new British government, and the left leaning Liberal Democrats may be destroying their future prospects by siding with a party that has diametrically opposed policies in many areas.

How all that plays out remains to be seen. The era of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown is now past in British politics, a remarkable era for Ireland where we saw a peace settlement, an apology for the Famine and a pair of leaders who worked heart and soul to achieve political progress there.

Let’s hope Cameron does not undo any of that great work. That is the best we can hope for.

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irishwxman | May 15, 2010, 10:46 PM EDT

Then I misspoke. Instead of the majority, they have the largest party.

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icanseetrees | May 15, 2010, 09:08 PM EDT

irishwxman - Sinn Fein received 171,942 votes (25.5%) and 5 seats in the Irish Parliament. DUP received 168,216 vote (25%) and 8 seats in the Irish Parliament. This means that although Sinn Fein got more votes, DUP actually have the majority in Parliament.

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irishwxman | May 15, 2010, 06:42 PM EDT

"Sinn Fein have emerged as the largest party in Northern Ireland after this British election, taking 171,000 votes overall to the DUP's 168,000. If repeated in the Assembly elections next year it would mean that Sinn Fein would elect the First Minister of Northern Ireland,a remarkable turn of events." A quote from this website to back my claim.

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irishwxman | May 15, 2010, 12:11 PM EDT

Sinn Fein is the largest political party and has the majority. Maybe if you did research and did not get your facts from wikipedia you would know that.

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Realist | May 15, 2010, 09:37 AM EDT

irishwxman: Sinn Fein got just over 25% of the vote, how's that a 'majority'? The largest party? The DUP also got 25% (0.2) behind Sinn Fein and they did not stand in 2 constituencies....lol. I think you'll find that they are the largest party. I suggest you consult the facts first before you make your next 'contribution'.

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irishwxman | May 14, 2010, 12:19 PM EDT

I agree ritmomente. Sinn Fein has the majority so it doesn't matter, and manofaran needs to work on his grammar. The conversation came about lib and anti lib from the fact that I said the UK needed to elect a conservative to end the ridiculous entitlement programs and get the country out of the financial ruin that it is in now. You can take it from there.

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ritmomente | May 14, 2010, 10:06 AM EDT

How did this conversation sway into liberal or anti-liberal ideology? I think the point of the article is that Cameron is expected to be no friend to The North. Well actually, that is no matter. The LibDem's attempt to drum up support from the UUP fell on deaf ears because the UUP was decimated. Sinn Fein is the largest political party and should assume the First Minister position. Manofaran, fix your grammar.

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irishwxman | May 13, 2010, 06:49 PM EDT

And further more, I do not take my cue's from Limbaugh or Sean Hannity. Their ideology is the same as mine on most issues, but I think for myself. My parents came to America from Ireland to give their children a better chance at success. My parents instilled my ideology in me. Self reliance and absolutely zero government dependence.

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irishwxman | May 13, 2010, 06:29 PM EDT

Equal work does not necessarily mean equal pay. I would abolish Unions. That is another waste of money. all of Obama's entitlement programs would be gone. Ireland is ranked number 2 in the world when it comes to entitlement programs. That is an honor I don't think I would want. That is why countries are going bankrupt. Its not the housing bubble. It was bad paper being sold with bad investments. Banks were forced to give loans to people who knowingly could not pay them back.

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irishwxman | May 13, 2010, 06:27 PM EDT

It is not the role of government to support those that refuse to support themselves. they chose that lifestyle. They must suffer the consequences of their past actions. Whether it be dropping out of school, no paying attention in school, refusing to work outside in sun or do hard labor. Laziness should not be rewarded.

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irishwxman | May 13, 2010, 06:25 PM EDT

Then I would extend the Bush tax cuts. This mentality that the wealthy are the wicked evil people is utter nonsense. The wealthy create jobs. I would totally end government education. Government schools are a form of child abuse in my opinion. All of the so called czars? gone. waste of money. I would cut the pay of elected of elected government officials.

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irishwxman | May 13, 2010, 06:24 PM EDT

Where would I cut the spending?? well first off, i would repeal that monstrosity of a healthcare law. What a complete waste of taxpayer dollars. Second I would return every dime that was STOLEN from the taxpayers that went into the FAILED stimulus bill.

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manofaran | May 13, 2010, 03:15 PM EDT

Further more did you live in England or are you just repeating Limbarg or Fake Hannety statements. I like to know of things first hand. You do know of course that alot of those toxic deals on wall street have alot to do with the world economy. I guess they can self regulate just like the oil co. do, right. Or how Masseys Mines took care or his employies.

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manofaran | May 13, 2010, 03:06 PM EDT

So why am I a far left moonbat, Your for small goverment low spending.Ok Ive no problem with that. Where would you cut the budget.What branches of the goverment would you get rid of.Eliminate Social Security or Medicare or Education .Where and how exactly?

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manofaran | May 13, 2010, 03:01 PM EDT

Ok, The reason we are in the state wre in world wide is deregulation of bank ,stock system etc,It is corpoism that has got us here. Example- There was a huge housing bubble in England at the end of Thathers last years in office. He helped cause it and couldnt fix it, she also ran up a huge dept. So lets try some facts instead of broad statements.

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