Category: politics

APNI, Conservatives, DUP, Fairer Votes, Labour, Lib Dems, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, politics, SDLP, Sinn Féin, TUV, UUPLeave a comment

It’s a small change – but it will make a big difference

Michael McFarland Campbell

The most ambitious voter contact programme in British political history will be getting off the ground this weekend. The first wave of a total of 50 phonebanks will be open in cities across the United Kingdom. The cause
? The campaign for Yes to Fairer Votes for the Referendum on May 5th on the voting system used for Westminster elections. 140,000 already signed up Saturday 4th December will go down in history as the day it started. Already 140,000 people have signed up to help the campaign. I am proud to be one of them. This campaign truly is one from … Continue reading It’s a small change – but it will make a big difference

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APNI, Belfast, DUP, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life1 Comment

Minister misleads the House: ministers must wise up

Michael McFarland Campbell

A sorry scene in a legislature Yesterday, we witnessed a sorry scene. A government minister getting up, answering questions, but answering them in a way so as to mislead the House. The government minister in question did so during First Minister’s Questions when answering a question from Dr Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party on the Cohesion, sharing and integration programme consultation, Democrati Unionist Junior Minister Robin Newton MBE MLA stated that: The consultation attracted 290 written responses Hansard, 29 Nov. 2010 and then just minutes later we heard the following exchange: Danny Kinahan: I thank the junior Minister for … Continue reading Minister misleads the House: ministers must wise up

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Lib Dems, Tuition Fees9 Comments

Nick Clegg MP: no confidence from party?

Michael McFarland Campbell

Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice Candidates’ Petition to MPs On another blog I have highlighted the petition on tuition fees sent to the 57 Lib Dem MPs on tuition fees. In writing it, it struck me that we are getting to the stage that the public is ending up with no confidence in the party as a whole. Are we all as members losing confidence in the leadership of Nick Clegg? Nick Clegg made a pledge The photograph pictured here is just a simple reminder that Nick Clegg signed the pledge TO VOTE AGAINST ANY INCREASE IN FEES in the … Continue reading Nick Clegg MP: no confidence from party?

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Enniskillen, Fairer Votes, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, Sinn FéinLeave a comment

Court may not have ordered a re-run…

Michael McFarland Campbell

…but local campaigners are doing just that this Saturday The result in the General Election in Fermanagh & South Tyrone (FST) could hardly have been closer. Both Michelle Gildernew (Sinn Féin) and Rodney Connor (Independent) got 45.5% of the vote back in May. With 4 votes between them the result was taken to a costly electoral court. Would a vote using the Alternative Vote (AV) have made the result any clearer? Would it have made a difference? Stephen Glenn, Northern Ireland Organiser, and the Yes to  Fairer Votes team will be running a re-run* of the FST parliamentary election by … Continue reading Court may not have ordered a re-run…

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Health, HIV, Northern Ireland, politics, SDLP, Social DevelopmentLeave a comment

Belfast’s leading HIV charity supports Harrington Review findings

Michael McFarland Campbell

Wearing one of my many hats, I am a Trustee of Belfast’s local HIV charity, The HIV Support Centre. The Harrington Review into Work Capability Assessments that was published yesterday must be taken note of by Northern Ireland’s own Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood MLA. Below is the text of a post on The HIV Support Centre’s website. Continue reading “Belfast’s leading HIV charity supports Harrington Review findings”

Belfast, news, Northern Ireland, SDLPLeave a comment

the big society needs to start at a local level

Michael McFarland Campbell

There is much talk about fuel poverty in Northern Ireland, one of the ways that many people try to provide some heat for their homes is by using a free-standing heater. It may be a gas, an electric, or even an electrically powered oil heater.   Whichever it is, it is vital that anyone using these heaters uses them sensibly and responsibly. Earlier this week, a 24-year-old woman and her eight-week-old baby were treated for smoke inhalation following a fire at a house in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast. From BBC news I fully agree with the SDLP’s Conall … Continue reading the big society needs to start at a local level

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Lib Dems, Northern Ireland, politicsLeave a comment

NI LibDems – AGM change of date

Michael McFarland Campbell

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Annual General Meeting of the Northern Ireland Liberal Democrats due to be held tomorrow evening has been postponed to 8 December 2010. The time and venue will remain the same but on the new date. All members that have email contacts registered with the Party will have received notice by email. We are endeavouring to contact others by telephone. Continue reading NI LibDems – AGM change of date

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Conservatives, Daily Mail, Fairer Votes, Labour, Lib Dems, Media, news, NewspapersLeave a comment

Daily Mail appears to tell lies…

Michael McFarland Campbell

It is rare of me to be reading the Daily Mail’s website, but the headline about the Tories putting up a candidate in the Oldham East & Saddleworth election following the ruling of the Election Court with regard to Phil Woolas. The Daily Mail seems to think that it was a ‘by-election’ that was tainted. Let’s hope that those responsible for writing headlines could actually attempt to be accurate. After all, we wouldn’t want anyone accused of telling lies now. And as for the content of the story. Well it is hardly surprising that all the parties appear to be … Continue reading Daily Mail appears to tell lies…

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Belfast, Blogging, Fairer Votes, news, Northern Ireland, SDLPLeave a comment

lots of positivity at SDLP conference – Stephen Glenn

Michael McFarland Campbell

I am just back home from the SDLP conference at the Ramada near Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast today, with NI Campaign Manager Stephen Glenn. It was great to meet up with and receive positive comments and support from many SDLP elected representatives including: Margaret Ritchie MP Mark Durkan MP Alasdair McDonnell MP Dolores Kelly MLA Conall McDevitt MLA Patsy McGlone MLA Declan O’Loan MLA Cllr Niall Kelly, Belfast City Council… Read the rest on Fairer Votes Belfast Continue reading lots of positivity at SDLP conference – Stephen Glenn

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