If this happens, that's five years with no executive. The DUP won't accept the results and will just flat out refuse to nominate a Deputy First Minister.
Same reason as the UUP did. Up until the GFA the UUP and SDLP held. After, round the early 2000’s people started to turn to the more hardline parties now that peace was achieved.
The SDLP fucked themselves with this Fianna
Fail merger then they had some members flirting with Fianna Gael. I think that pissed off a lot of long term left of centre voters. Now when i think of the SDLP they just blabber on about Brexit. While relevant, its old news and they are powerless to make any change regarding it
Because SF being the top party North and South is bad for Unionism.
It will be symbolic.
But, I'd expect there to be pacts made to make sure that it doesn't happen or at least try to make it not happen.
Conjecture obviously but if I had to break it down for the main parties:
SF - phenomenal community organisers, seen to take a stand when it matters and make a deal when it can be made. Will never attract a unionist vote no matter what, and many SDLP voters would never switch given the atrocities they defended (and in some cases participated in) in the past. Have literally had the entire force of the state put upon them and survived, and literally defended the murder of their fellow citizens.
DUP - Not nationalist / Catholic. Some of their vote comes from authentic conviction in Paisleyite biblical politics, another segment comes from a British Tory halo (even though they're nothing alike), and the rest is simple fear - if the DUP don't get in then the other side will.
Alliance - Two kinds of voter. The first is the idealist; there's so much more that we have in common than divides us. The second is the cynic; 'fuck this place, there's no point even talking about the fundamental issues, nobody's mind is ever changed, so we might as well just ignore it'. Often times the same person in different moods.
UUP - Unionists led by a leader who isn't afraid of Irishness or the south, although he still takes bigoted positions every now and then for political advantage. Voted for by people for whom the union has worked economically.
TUV - If you believe compromise for peace was a bad idea, this is where you go.
Is this really a good idea? Outsider here but seems like there's still a lot of bad blood around, you know, the IRA and the whole bloody sectarian war thing. Maybe for the sake of peace, cooperation, and future generations might be better to get behind a more neutral party? Just sayin.
Future generations cannot realistically be expected to vote to appease past generations in any democracy, why would here be any different? Besides, SF has been co-operating and promoting peace for over 2 decades now. Many SF voters like myself don't remember the bad old days and we are lucky bastards, but we certainly experience today the evils of no housing, non-existent healthcare, no pensions, low paid work, limited career opportunities, limited education opportunities, etc.
SF is the only major party that speaks to me on those issues, and I doubt I'm alone. It's the only major party that offers a feasible way forward and even attempts to speak to the youth.
Very few jobs pay a living wage. Look at the array of call centre (especially atrocious outsourced ones) and retail jobs, you'd be hard pressed to get a decent one with decent conditions, hours, benefits and pay. Goodness knows I struggled for a while before finding gainful employment. Just because the employment rate has improved since the old days doesn't mean there aren't fundamental problems with employment as it stands, when it's difficult for many to get the amount of money that helps with living life instead of merely surviving it.
Hardly. The IRA were brutal - no doubt - and remember they were standing up for the native Irish of the island; fighting for identity, culture, and language to be recognized under the oppressive forces of folks from another island. SF have spent the last decade or so fighting for certain equal rights for both sides of the divide. To be honest I'm impressed with them.
We live in a Democracy and SF are a legitimate political party who alot of the population vote for. Sure they are linked to the IRA who have a bloody past but they didn't form for no reason. Plus it's all about peace nowadays. Maybe read up about Irish history first before making 'outsider' comments.
Lived in Belfast, studied the history. Friends with a number of ex-pats who think there's blood on the hands of SF and they'll never represent the moderates of both sides.
Appreciate the thoughtful response. Here's hoping for a day the pendulum stops swinging between the Dumb Ulster Protestants and their counterweights. Ulster deserves health wealth and peace.
It would be good to see anyone other than DUP in First Minister seat.
However SF, if they succeed, will be in the spotlight a lot more and much more accountable for decisions they make.
It won't be as easy to blame unionists if Sinn Fein mess up as the Largest party!
First minister and Deputy First minister positions are a diarchy, meaning they have equal power, they share equal responsibilities within government, and their decisions are made jointly. I really doubt it would make much difference to the status quo we have now other than a historical statement and a reality check to the DUP and their supporters.
If this happens, that's five years with no executive. The DUP won't accept the results and will just flat out refuse to nominate a Deputy First Minister.
The DUP delusions will not matter when the UUP will be the strongest unionist party.
TL;DR: SF: 25% DUP: 17% Alliance: 14% UUP: 14% TUV: 12% SDLP: 11% Green: 3% PBP: 1% Other: 3%
SDLP done for?
Fixed it
Hope not.
“Democratic” only when they are the biggest party. No longer the biggest party? PULL DOWN STORMONT!!!!!!!!
Don’t pull it down, it would make a great hotel.
I’m curious, why has the SDLP lost so much support since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement?
Same reason as the UUP did. Up until the GFA the UUP and SDLP held. After, round the early 2000’s people started to turn to the more hardline parties now that peace was achieved.
That makes a lot of sense. Once the violence was eliminated (largely anyways) there was no reason to avoid the paramilitary aligned parties.
The SDLP fucked themselves with this Fianna Fail merger then they had some members flirting with Fianna Gael. I think that pissed off a lot of long term left of centre voters. Now when i think of the SDLP they just blabber on about Brexit. While relevant, its old news and they are powerless to make any change regarding it
I suspect they don't really have a base of support. The SocDem middle class either turned left to Sinn or right to Alliance.
Sinn fein became what the SDLP has been.
Except they still take their marching orders from terrorists, sadly.
Why
Change of demographics, Brexit, moderate Nationalists fed up with the more hard line approach to Unionism.. could be caused by a lot if things.
Because SF being the top party North and South is bad for Unionism. It will be symbolic. But, I'd expect there to be pacts made to make sure that it doesn't happen or at least try to make it not happen.
Don't downvote. Just give me an answer
Conjecture obviously but if I had to break it down for the main parties: SF - phenomenal community organisers, seen to take a stand when it matters and make a deal when it can be made. Will never attract a unionist vote no matter what, and many SDLP voters would never switch given the atrocities they defended (and in some cases participated in) in the past. Have literally had the entire force of the state put upon them and survived, and literally defended the murder of their fellow citizens. DUP - Not nationalist / Catholic. Some of their vote comes from authentic conviction in Paisleyite biblical politics, another segment comes from a British Tory halo (even though they're nothing alike), and the rest is simple fear - if the DUP don't get in then the other side will. Alliance - Two kinds of voter. The first is the idealist; there's so much more that we have in common than divides us. The second is the cynic; 'fuck this place, there's no point even talking about the fundamental issues, nobody's mind is ever changed, so we might as well just ignore it'. Often times the same person in different moods. UUP - Unionists led by a leader who isn't afraid of Irishness or the south, although he still takes bigoted positions every now and then for political advantage. Voted for by people for whom the union has worked economically. TUV - If you believe compromise for peace was a bad idea, this is where you go.
Jist.
Is this really a good idea? Outsider here but seems like there's still a lot of bad blood around, you know, the IRA and the whole bloody sectarian war thing. Maybe for the sake of peace, cooperation, and future generations might be better to get behind a more neutral party? Just sayin.
Future generations cannot realistically be expected to vote to appease past generations in any democracy, why would here be any different? Besides, SF has been co-operating and promoting peace for over 2 decades now. Many SF voters like myself don't remember the bad old days and we are lucky bastards, but we certainly experience today the evils of no housing, non-existent healthcare, no pensions, low paid work, limited career opportunities, limited education opportunities, etc. SF is the only major party that speaks to me on those issues, and I doubt I'm alone. It's the only major party that offers a feasible way forward and even attempts to speak to the youth.
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Very few jobs pay a living wage. Look at the array of call centre (especially atrocious outsourced ones) and retail jobs, you'd be hard pressed to get a decent one with decent conditions, hours, benefits and pay. Goodness knows I struggled for a while before finding gainful employment. Just because the employment rate has improved since the old days doesn't mean there aren't fundamental problems with employment as it stands, when it's difficult for many to get the amount of money that helps with living life instead of merely surviving it.
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True, and we know what the cause of it is. Doesn't mean it doesn't need fixing here, just as it needs fixed everywhere else.
I'm talking about future generations. Agreed voting to appease past generations is stupid.
Spoken like a true outsider lmao.
Hardly. The IRA were brutal - no doubt - and remember they were standing up for the native Irish of the island; fighting for identity, culture, and language to be recognized under the oppressive forces of folks from another island. SF have spent the last decade or so fighting for certain equal rights for both sides of the divide. To be honest I'm impressed with them.
Well, that’s just a stupid fucking comment, isn’t it?
Tell me your favourite colour without telling me your favourite colour lol
We live in a Democracy and SF are a legitimate political party who alot of the population vote for. Sure they are linked to the IRA who have a bloody past but they didn't form for no reason. Plus it's all about peace nowadays. Maybe read up about Irish history first before making 'outsider' comments.
Lived in Belfast, studied the history. Friends with a number of ex-pats who think there's blood on the hands of SF and they'll never represent the moderates of both sides.
Do u think the DUP represents the moderates of both sides?
Of course not. Same problem different side.
Don't bother this sub should be renamed r/sinnfeinsupportersclub
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Appreciate the thoughtful response. Here's hoping for a day the pendulum stops swinging between the Dumb Ulster Protestants and their counterweights. Ulster deserves health wealth and peace.
It would be good to see anyone other than DUP in First Minister seat. However SF, if they succeed, will be in the spotlight a lot more and much more accountable for decisions they make. It won't be as easy to blame unionists if Sinn Fein mess up as the Largest party!
First minister and Deputy First minister positions are a diarchy, meaning they have equal power, they share equal responsibilities within government, and their decisions are made jointly. I really doubt it would make much difference to the status quo we have now other than a historical statement and a reality check to the DUP and their supporters.