Ed Simpson

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41968810404203297212012-02-20T09:16:47.678ZEd SimpsonPolitical blog, mostly to do with Northern Ireland but a fair bit of National Politics too, all with a Unionist, Liberal, Left of Centre spin.Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.comBlogger1301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-61291162090254613012012-02-13T10:04:00.002Z2012-02-13T10:04:23.354ZDefence of The Sun is not defence of Press Freedom

Since the arrest of 5 journalists working for The Sun newspaper on Saturday, it’s been interesting to note the response. As with most things there are three general schools of opinion on the issue: good, bad, and indifferent. I declare now; I’m firmly in the good camp. I think it’s wonderful that The Sun is under such scrutiny and can only hope that other tabloid newspapers find themselves

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-73072173781628701782012-01-30T09:14:00.001Z2012-01-30T09:15:38.452ZUnionist Unity: What is the point?

I imagine it won’t be long before David McNarry’s resignation from the UUP Assembly Group is followed by David McNarry’s resignation from the UUP itself and his subsequent joining of the DUP. It’s not exactly a bold prediction though, given that McNarry has long argued the case for Unionist Unity and closer working relationships with the DUP. His recent disclosure of the details of meetings on

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-45294785088318385802012-01-30T09:13:00.000Z2012-01-30T09:13:47.185ZWe need to talk about The Falkland Islands.

Actually, we don’t need to talk about The Falkland Islands at all, but seeing as other commentators insist on it and 1980’s politics is on trend, I may as well throw my (admittedly amateur) hat in the ring too. General Sir Michael Jackson, the retired Chief of the General Staff, in an interview for The Sunday Telegraph has warned us all that should the Falklands suffer a successful invasion by

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-24913212298608752242012-01-24T10:36:00.000Z2012-01-24T10:36:36.298ZLeft Wing opposition to Benefit Cap is flawed. This is why.

The coalition government have played a very good game on the proposed benefit cap. Labour activists have been throwing their arms up in complete indignation at the latest ‘attack on the poor’ from the nasty Tories. They bang the drum for the working-class, the underclass and the downright poverty stricken in society who will most likely suffer from these proposals. They are right, of course, to

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-2699797030344893332011-11-16T13:31:00.000Z2011-11-16T13:31:28.048ZA ban on smoking in cars isn't enough.

For some reason, this subject often elicits more response than writing about something like capital punishment, human rights or even state education. It seems that there is no political line when it comes to smoking – this isn’t something that falls on right or left politics. People are often against anti-smoking laws because of the civil liberties aspect and naturally you get alliances from

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-12922248053236856822011-11-15T15:15:00.000Z2011-11-15T15:15:30.669ZState Employment for the long term unemployed? Yes, please Mr Cameron

Don't be surprised: the socialist in me is naturally delighted to hear that David Cameron is considering offering state employment to those who have been unable to find work. That is, in effect, what is being advocated, yes? Well, seeing as it's being advocated by a Conservative Prime Minister I should maybe hold my enthusiasm back and wait for the devil in the detail. Until that comes, however,

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-57389696504172948622011-11-11T15:58:00.000Z2011-11-11T15:58:37.384ZTories & The UUP - The end of the affair.

When you first read the letter from The Conservatives to the leadership of the UUP, in which they advise the UUP to disband and effectively let The Conservatives take over, you can’t help but laugh at the sheer audacity and cheek of it. Here you have a party with no foothold whatsoever in Northern Ireland suggesting to the oldest party in the province – and despite recent election results, a

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-83284312558420247272011-11-08T11:21:00.000Z2011-11-08T11:21:12.497ZPoppies, Remembrance & Peace.

I was in my early teens when my Grandfather died. I loved him very much and was, naturally, very sad to lose him. However, I remember just how much more of a loss it seemed to be to my sister, 8 years my elder, and never really understood why, at least not until I started thinking about Grandpa recently as the time of year comes around again when remembrance poppies are everywhere and the long

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-21570080149269756542011-11-08T11:02:00.001Z2011-11-08T11:17:54.286ZBuild, Build, Build.

Of all the things that annoy me about the ineffectiveness of our political leadership, the constant and stubborn ignorance of the benefits of a strong construction industry rankles more than most. Obviously there are failings in many other areas that, on a day to day basis are more of a concern for me but mostly that's to do with ideology. The attitude to the construction industry though, is not

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-1382103475894954472011-11-07T14:31:00.000Z2011-11-07T14:31:29.490ZThe SDLP have bigger problems than bright lighting.

Unsurprisingly, a good deal of the media coverage of Alasdair McDonnell's maiden speech as the new leader of the SDLP focused on the mechanics. McDonnell, blinded by bright television lights, seemed unable to focus on effective delivery, went 'off script' several times, and stopped his speech more than once to complain about the lighting. The broadcast ended before the speech and so the SDLP

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-63690288234721827182011-11-04T11:06:00.001Z2011-11-04T11:07:09.347ZHow The Daily Mail proved Hugh Grant's point.

Ah, The Daily Mail. It really is an incredible piece of work isn't it? A newspaper so extreme and twisted that even those dedicated to parodying it struggle to produce anything The Daily Mail isn't prepared to do itself. This week we've had a double helping of the Mail's particular brand of crazy: firstly, in the form of a column from Liz Jones, (who previously asserted that murder victims Joanna

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-12865769003134341772011-11-03T09:04:00.000Z2011-11-03T09:04:53.461ZThe tricky subject of politicians pay.

Any politician or commentator looking for a nice safe position to take won’t ever go far wrong attacking the pay & perks afforded to elected representatives. More so than any other public sector employees, politicians salaries, expenses and any freebies they may get are scrutinised and, for the most part, condemned as excessive, unwarranted & distasteful in the current climate (though I’d argue

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-64244978644972668862011-10-17T15:23:00.000+01:002011-10-17T15:23:34.527+01:00Can we at least TRY and have an intelligent debate about Occupy protests?

First things first: I'm with the Occupy groups in spirit. I'm not there in person because I have other commitments but I am ever thankful that there are those who put themselves out on my behalf and on the behalf of others to further their cause. So yes, I wholeheartedly support the protests. I could of course, just leave it there and assume that people will understand that it doesn't mean I

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-88466928201526837732011-10-17T13:31:00.000+01:002011-10-17T13:31:15.659+01:00Homosexuality & The X-Factor

I'm an X Factor fan. I'm not in the slightest bit ashamed of that. I know all the arguments against it and pretty much agree with each & every one. It is cynical TV and contributes little, at least in positive terms, to the music industry. It glorifies public humiliation and subjects people, often young people, to unacceptable and artificial levels stress. But, it is absolutely fantastic

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-25003847413165898912011-10-17T12:29:00.000+01:002011-10-17T12:29:23.198+01:00Lack of Service

Just a quick note to apologise for this blog going quiet for a while. I could reel out a load of excuses about a busier personal life (which happens to be true) but the real reason is that it was getting progressively harder to a) come up with a subject that I really wanted to write about and b) write something completely original. There are no shortage of genuinely gifted writers on the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-7495398344643110512011-08-16T12:05:00.000+01:002011-08-16T12:05:37.844+01:00Electronic Voting - Are we missing the point?

I have just read an interesting piece on the Total Politics website by Melanie Batley about the electronic voting, or to be more precise about the potential for it being introduced in the UK. This obviously isn't the first article written on the subject and with all due respect to Melanie Batley, there are far more comprehensive articles out there explaining the in's and out's of e-voting. What

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-122757796700221872011-08-14T09:49:00.000+01:002011-08-14T09:49:11.534+01:00This is no Arab Spring.

I suppose, given the unprecedented levels of civil unrest and disorder that we have seen in many countries where previously such actions had been unthinkable, it was almost inevitable that when we, in the UK, experienced our very own unrest & disorder that comparisons with the uprisings collectively termed the Arab Spring would be made. There can be little doubt that many of those rioting here

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-43386858194836636542011-08-12T14:44:00.000+01:002011-08-12T14:44:19.497+01:00Riots are an opportunity for us to finally address poverty in the UK.

I have held fire on writing a piece about the riots that spread across much of the country (as a Unionist, I won't try and push them as a just English problem) this last week. When such a major news story is ongoing two things are almost certain: 1. Countless articles, blog posts and columns will be written analysing every part of the story and 2. Something will happen that will invalidate every

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-7058303104363503712011-08-01T10:06:00.000+01:002011-08-01T10:06:49.220+01:00Capital Punishment.

In society, well, a civilised society at least, when defining the power of the state, there is an important starting point, an ideal - The state should not harm it's citizens. It is essential to highlight the most important part of that sentence - Ideal. Due to the nature of society, at some point the state will have to move away from that ideal in order to maintain law & order and ensure

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-57667075562861283642011-07-29T16:09:00.000+01:002011-07-29T16:09:15.284+01:00McGuinness inadvertently highlights problem with multiple mandates.

During the course of their investigation into the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr, the PSNI decided that they needed to arrest certain people and they decided the best way to do this was through raids. They also decided to alert the media to the raids. After the individuals arrested were detained and questioned, they were released, without charge, save for one woman. Following this, Martin

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-27484669377682690302011-07-28T11:45:00.000+01:002011-07-28T11:45:07.785+01:00Why Pride is still essential.

When I was a little younger and first learned about Pride my first thought was one of genuine confusion. As a straight man, I didn't understand why gay men felt the need to parade their sexuality because I most certainly didn't. However, this conclusion was formed because of my genuine indifference to sexuality. Some people were indeed Gay but I didn't need to get over it; it was never an issue

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-25444233140807604232011-07-25T13:52:00.000+01:002011-07-25T13:52:54.667+01:00Why the Left has to stop defending Islam.

Perhaps it wasn't all that surprising that within a few minutes of hearing about the awful attacks in Norway, many people assumed it to be the work of Islamic terrorists. Of course, it has now transpired to be no such thing - indeed the culprit appears to be Islamophobic. What was interesting though was the response to those who had voiced such suspicions. There seemed to be a clamour to condemn

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-46736831872189184092011-07-25T12:44:00.000+01:002011-07-25T12:44:30.261+01:00Darren Clarke. A role model?

During the last round of the Open, Darren Clarke was seen quite clearly to be enjoying a cigarette while out on the course. Unsurprisingly a few people took issue with this. One of them, Eamonn Mallie tweeted his displeasure and disappointment and was, perhaps even less surprisingly, admonished by fans of Darren Clarke. The thing is, Mallie was correct and they, I'm afraid, were wrong. It wasn't

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-88342564520552458912011-07-20T14:22:00.000+01:002011-07-20T14:22:54.178+01:00Why we must not move on from #hackgate until we know everything.

First of all, I'm sorry to use the term 'hackgate' but it's an easy term of reference for this whole sorry saga so I shall continue to do so even though I generally detest any form of 'gate'. There is another reason for using that term and that is the similarity in scale, if not detail, of what was easily the biggest political scandal of the last century - Watergate. The only thing that keeps

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-28528088823909888802011-07-12T10:39:00.000+01:002011-07-12T10:39:04.847+01:00A few notes about the Phone Hacking scandal.

I could have, had I been inclined, written 1000 words a day about this particular topic in the last week, such was the amount of information coming out, each time giving us a new angle at which to see the whole affair. I thought it was probably wise to hold my fire until we got the whole picture. It became clear after a couple of days, that could be a while and so, I thought I would just write a

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-88161489485363955772011-07-11T11:08:00.000+01:002011-07-11T11:08:40.160+01:00Flags & Identity.

It would seem there is unrest amongst the Loyalist communities. All the talk is of a section of society that feels abandoned, left behind, marginalised. I think, to some extent, that feeling is valid. My problem is that this community is the same community that right now insists everyone else be subjected to their celebrations and traditions. To put it another way, a minority is inflicting it's

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-88667194855088967492011-07-04T09:25:00.000+01:002011-07-04T09:25:03.719+01:00Ian McCrea: Provocative comments & the results.

I need to start by saying that the arson attack on Ian McCrea's car at his family home was, and remains, completely unjustified. Violence in response to words rarely is. Though it is important to note that whilst the act itself was unjustified, it is foolish and irresponsible to pretend that the attack was not as a direct consequence of Mr McCrea's remarks and as such, there is an element of

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-91018206025445054022011-06-29T10:29:00.000+01:002011-06-29T10:29:19.758+01:00Why I'm joining the Green Party in Northern Ireland

I am just about to fill in my membership form for the Green Party here in Northern Ireland. It is a decision I have come to after an awful lot of consideration and I believe wholeheartedly is the right one and I shall try and explain why. I consider myself to be left wing and a social democrat. I'm not feverishly so but it's probably the easiest classification. I am also strongly in favour of

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-17730917904635043892011-06-27T09:37:00.000+01:002011-06-27T09:37:53.834+01:00Human Rights - People struggling with the definiton.

On the BBC's Sunday Morning Live, Susannah Reid asked viewers to vote on the following question: Do Immigrant Criminals deserve Human Rights?I'm afraid to resort to cliché but I very nearly spat my tea out. It's not so much that the question was asked but that it was asked by the BBC who, up to now, I had thought able to grasp the definition of a) what a Human is and b) what a Right is. I know

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-13918110136184970442011-06-26T09:29:00.000+01:002011-06-26T09:29:32.586+01:00There is no place for Loyalism in NI Politics.

The news in Northern Ireland this week has been understandably dominated by the riots in East Belfast. The fallout of which has led to countless discussions about the reasons for the violence and what can be done to prevent it in the future. As usual, after initial condemnation, it has started to settle into the timeless 'they started it' school of debating that Northern Ireland is expert in.

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-79204751992892964202011-06-20T15:28:00.000+01:002011-06-20T15:28:07.107+01:00Cameron on Absentee Fathers.

The trick, when trying to sell a position that you wish others to take up, is to make it sound as inoffensive and as obvious as possible. It's not so much about giving people a reason to say Yes as not giving them any reason to say No. Everyone does it to some extent. The teenager says to his parents 'I just want to spend some time with my friends' when pleading for permission to indulge in late

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-50969776467292798972011-06-16T16:05:00.000+01:002011-06-16T16:05:53.113+01:00Northern Ireland Choice Awards 2011

Ok, I have quite shamelessly nominated myself to win an award for Best Website/Blog at the Northern Ireland Choice Awards. This particular awards process is 2 stage. Firstly, it's a vote chase where those with the most votes are put through to a final round which involves a judging panel making the final decision. I would very much appreciate it if you would all be so lovely as to help me out by

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-75685452923401183952011-06-16T10:41:00.000+01:002011-06-16T10:41:43.917+01:00We need REVOLUTION! Well, in Public Transport at least.

No party, not even the Green Party, offer proposals that will adequately change the way public transport is used and operated in this country. I credit the Greens with at least having what I believe is a genuine desire to dramatically reduce the reliance on our private cars for transport. I'm confident that the driving force behind most parties claims to want to do the same are due to political

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-63087587923230831742011-06-11T09:25:00.000+01:002011-06-11T09:25:44.147+01:00Reparative Therapy - nothing more than a desire to rid world of Gay people

Next Tuesday there is an event taking place in Belfast to discuss, in a manner of words, the best way to 'cure' Gay people of their 'illness'. In our present day society, I can think of little more offensive and abhorrent than such a thing. Fortunately, a protest has been organised to register the disgust of people of a similar mind to me. Unfortunately, it will probably lack the numbers required

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-27231580153925630742011-06-09T09:41:00.000+01:002011-06-09T09:41:18.258+01:00Archbishop of Canterbury raises questions about coalitions that apply here too.

My new post on Slugger O'Toole: It won’t come as a surprise to most Tories that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams isn’t a fan of theirs, though I imagine even they are surprised at the quite frank criticisms he has levelled at them in his editorial for the New Statesman which is previewed here.Williams focuses on the speed and depth of reforms that the Tories and their coalition

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-48900356068718190242011-06-07T13:22:00.002+01:002011-06-07T13:23:56.195+01:00A 'Beggar' Nation? It's a little more complex than that.

Well, it seems Shane Greer has a thing for Northern Ireland right now. Last week he was on the Nolan Show talking about how the level of subsidy that Northern Ireland receives is unfair to English taxpayers. To follow that he then sought to further clarify his point with a post on Total Politics entitled 'Northern Ireland is a beggar'. As if that wasn't enough, Shane was back on Nolan again

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-81489481714777540632011-06-05T11:50:00.000+01:002011-06-05T11:50:17.880+01:00Tom Elliot right to centralise selection, but what next?

Of the many criticisms that were thrown at the UUP and Tom Elliot over the last 9 months, that of internal indiscipline is the one that probably hurt the most, mainly due to the fact it was so very hard to deny. It was also, for the most part, an unfair one to level at Tom Elliot as an individual. In a party like the UUP, discipline is almost impossible to insist on - it has to be encouraged and

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-8982744512318420042011-06-01T16:02:00.001+01:002011-06-01T16:03:31.482+01:00Where is the Republican outcry at Smithwick?

Today, the Dail voted to accept a proposal to impose a deadline for the completion of The Smithwick Inquiry into the murder of 2 senior RUC Officers. Chief Superintendent Harry Breen & Superintendent Bob Buchanan who were ambushed and shot by the IRA as they travelled back from a meeting with Gardai in Dundalk in 1989. The Inquiry was called to investigate allegations of collusion in the murder

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-19573394367360394922011-05-28T11:02:00.000+01:002011-05-28T11:02:35.648+01:00Baby P, Sharon Shoesmith & Ed Balls mistake.

The death of Baby P was a tragedy and it rightly horrified the public at large. Whenever any child dies from abuse it is sickening but the levels of abuse that the poor baby in this case suffered seemed particularly worse because of the failure of systems and procedures that allowed it to happen when it's clear the authorises were aware that abuse was most likely taking place. When a case like

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-17556628527339738802011-05-27T18:35:00.000+01:002011-05-27T18:35:12.537+01:00Big challenge for Stephen Farry as Agnew's Greens look over his shoulder.

The new Minister for Employment & Learning will no doubt be pouring over his budget right now to examine what movement he has, if any, in the way of student fees. Apart from the rather obvious financial implications on students and their families, any rise in fees will have serious political implications for Alliance and the Green Party in particular can apply significant pressure. Alliance have,

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-76755603098969141892011-05-27T15:06:00.003+01:002011-05-27T17:45:23.370+01:00Ruth Patterson's behaviour; an embarrassment to us all.

No matter her reason or excuse, there is no justification for the behaviour of the DUP councillor Ruth Patterson. Patterson was elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast last night and was offered congratulations by the newly elected Lord Mayor, Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Fein. Patterson ignored the Lord Mayor refusing to acknowledge his gracious gesture. The basis of this insult (for that is what

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-86019029935376729362011-05-26T11:00:00.000+01:002011-05-26T11:00:22.958+01:00McArdle appointment. What it says about Sinn Fein.

No matter which way you look at it, the appointment of Mary McArdle as a Special Advisor to the new Culture Minister is offensive and incredibly disappointing. Sinn Fein will make all their usual arguments about her being a former political prisoner, a prisoner of war and how she was engaged on a mission against a legitimate target. They will reference the Good Friday Agreement and point out that

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-36348773629712442242011-05-26T10:23:00.000+01:002011-05-26T10:23:19.788+01:00Reducing benefits not the answer.

When the subject of state benefits comes up, it's not long before someone will come out with something along the lines of 'people get far too much on benefits' and it's usually followed by 'you're better off not working'. Well, the fact is that only the latter is anywhere close to the truth. When we talk about what people receive from the state in the form of benefits, you have to remember to

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-77238096667765484542011-05-25T12:01:00.001+01:002011-05-25T12:01:35.174+01:00Politicians & Money

Quite often, when keen to criticise a politician, or for that matter any public servant, the press, and by extension the public, like to raise the issue of how much the individual is paid from the public purse. This morning, on Good Morning Ulster, this happened when the issue of Policing Board membership was discussed. As it stands Independent members of the Policing Board are paid roughly

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-26603210765480057682011-05-24T20:24:00.001+01:002011-05-24T20:25:03.620+01:00Unionism can start to show it's teeth.

For many in Unionism, the Good Friday Agreement involved significantly more compromise for Unionists than it did for Nationalists, not least because for them, concessions usually meant giving something up they already had and for Nationalists it meant giving up on things they only aspired to have. This feeling has never really gone away and many still feel that it is just one concession after

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-39975166732686863662011-05-24T09:55:00.000+01:002011-05-24T09:55:46.084+01:00Privacy - Every one is entitled to it

Depending on the publication you are reading, the issue at hand with super-injunctions is one of either Press Freedom or Invasion of Privacy with almost all of the traditional tabloids opining the former and most of the (former) broadsheets; the latter. In truth, it is about both. There has been tremendous zeal on Twitter to name Ryan Giggs as the footballer who took out an injunction to prevent

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-64555477852357876352011-05-20T08:01:00.000+01:002011-05-20T08:01:14.883+01:00International Aid, Benefits, Service Cuts

I have been put in a mind to write something about this after seeing Melanie Philips on BBC's Question Time last night. As ever, she was on her usual form, making statements of certainty backed up by anecdotal evidence. This time, she was absolutely sure that Overseas Aid was not actually doing any good, rather it was only serving to make matters worse. Her solution to this was simple - stop all

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-9824732601305859572011-05-19T17:12:00.000+01:002011-05-19T17:12:21.278+01:00Sinn Fein are right to oppose Queens visit (but not for the reasons you think)

Now, before you report me to whoever is in charge of Unionism for letting the side down, let me explain. Sinn Fein are right to oppose the Queens visit because it is, ultimately, very bad for Sinn Fein. Firstly, whilst the worlds media are now overly fond of using words like historic, significant, unprecedented and the like, it has to be said that this visit is worthy of all such words. As such,

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-64274413912115891762011-05-19T11:58:00.000+01:002011-05-19T11:58:00.346+01:00The problem with Iris.

Iris Robinson has made her first public appearance since the scandal that brought an end to her political career and saw her remove herself completely from public life to deal with both the ramifications of her affair and also the mental illness that plagued her. I'm sure that Peter Robinson is pleased that Iris is on the right road to recovery from her illness and he clearly deserves credit for

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-71686467307740503992011-05-19T10:36:00.000+01:002011-05-19T10:36:57.913+01:00The real problem with Ken Clarke's words.

Following the 5Live interview yesterday, in which Ken Clarke referred to 'serious rapes' thus implying that some rapes were not, there was an absolute explosion of outrage on Twitter from all camps. As is the norm, it wasn't long before a few voices started to question the outrage and those voices became louder and shortly afterwards blog posts started appearing analysing what Ken Clarke had said

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-75720263737426314772011-05-18T13:32:00.000+01:002011-05-18T13:32:57.888+01:00Poots already getting an easy ride?

Last night I finally got round to watching Stormont Today from Monday night. The program featured an interview with the new Minister for Health, Edwin Poots. It came as no surprise that the issue of Budget was raised quickly. There was no end of arguments between the UUP & it's Minister, Michael McGimpsey and Sinn Fein & the DUP over the budget before the election. As far as the DUP were

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-11421004736859925362011-05-14T09:13:00.001+01:002011-05-15T08:49:24.762+01:00Election Posters: Time for agreement.

Halfway through the election I travelled to Scotland and Northern England, by car, and on the whole journey along hundreds of miles of roads and through Glasgow City Centre, I saw a grand total of 3 election posters. A stark contrast to here where, leaning out of my window, I could see more than a dozen within a 20 metre stretch. I'm not saying that means the Scots have it right and we have it

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-12235934628889979952011-05-13T21:58:00.002+01:002011-05-15T09:01:37.561+01:00Health. UUP must approach it right.

Yes, I did mean to write UUP & not DUP. Whilst the DUP may now have responsibility for health it does not signal an end of the UUP's concern in that Dept... Health was such a contentious issue before the election and irbid likely to remain one now the election has been & passed. However, the budget that the DUP said was adequate is the budget they now have to work to. They claimed efficiencies

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-74877348639875577912011-05-13T20:11:00.002+01:002011-05-15T09:02:48.469+01:00Why Jim Allister must be heard, if not listened to.

Well, Jim finally got the chance he's been waiting for; a shot at standing up in the Assembly and 'holding the cosy consensus of Sinn Fein & the DUP to account'... Except unfortunately for Jim he didn't really get to do much of that. Sure, he got a couple of remarks in about McGuiness and Gerry Kelly but what he really wanted to do was object to Francie Malloy getting the Dep. Speaker nod by

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-89869547005811095142011-05-11T10:42:00.001+01:002011-05-15T09:03:21.368+01:00The Alliance Party? Practical Politics over Ideology?

I have, on this blog and in public, been critical of the Alliance Party in the past, mostly over what I perceive to be a weak stance on the Union and recently over self praise which I felt was unwarranted. Now, after the election, I feel it prudent to re-examine that criticism and see if it is still valid... The prudence comes about because after being soundly thrashed at the polls as a first

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-11065341238170207462011-05-10T10:43:00.000+01:002011-05-10T10:43:41.861+01:00What now for the UUP?

I had sat down to write a piece about the Ulster Unionists last night and ended up with 5 drafts, all different, all focusing on a particular problem for the UUP and a solution to the problem. In the end, I couldn't actually finish any of the pieces because each one kept leading onto another problem or required another problem sorted first and I got bored of writing about the problems within that

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-11834255577406910932011-05-09T19:15:00.000+01:002011-05-09T19:15:50.335+01:00Election thoughts 3: Traditional Media should use Social Media.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions about the post title, let me make it clear that I am not suggesting that the BBC, UTV or the Newspapers learn how to use Twitter or Facebook: they already know how. What I am talking about is Traditional Media viewing those who use Social Media (and use it well) as a resource to be utilised. For instance, this weekend the BBC had real trouble updating their

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-81781455137612598742011-05-08T19:29:00.000+01:002011-05-08T19:29:08.557+01:00Election thoughts 2: The Online Election?

Dawn Purvis & Conall McDevit both had one thing in common coming into this election; they were incredibly popular online. If facebook friends and twitter followers translated into votes, they both would have romped home comfortably. As it happened, Dawn lost her seat and Conall got in under the quota (yes, I know it's still a valid seat but lets not pretend he wouldn't have rather topped the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-87539121767023979352011-05-08T13:09:00.001+01:002011-05-08T13:09:05.046+01:00Election thoughts 1: SF & DUP Transferring to each other?

There's quite a few things I want to write about after the election so instead of one huge post I'll just kick out a few smaller ones on each subject. I'll start with this purely because it's the first thing that came to mind. There were a few tales over the last few days of several instances of Sinn Fein votes transferring to the DUP on second preferences. There were also tales of it happening

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-37386609803860563132011-04-15T22:29:00.001+01:002011-04-15T22:29:39.576+01:00Would a secret ballot work for the Executive?

I've been thinking recently about what changes could be made to the way Stormont, and the executive in particular operates that could be considered during any programme for government after the election. Undoubtedly one of the big issues and consequently the most controversial is Health. Michael McGimpsey found himself almost exiled within the executive before the election as a fierce battle over

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-21889622962343438942011-04-07T15:25:00.001+01:002011-04-07T18:47:23.264+01:00My candidature in the Local Elections

This morning I handed in my nomination papers and I am now on the ballot for the Abbey DEA in the Local Elections in North Down. Despite being a relative 'unknown' and without the backing of a party behind me I feel that I have every chance and look forward to the challenge of my first election. Press release and picture of myself, Town Clerk Trevor Polley and my election agent and Father in Law,

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-71565200815989533052011-04-06T16:38:00.000+01:002011-04-06T16:38:10.327+01:0050:50 - Time was right to end it.

There has been an absolutely heartwarming response from the public following the brutal murder of Ronan Kerr at the weekend. It has been acknowledged by many as almost unprecedented in it's depth of emotion. One of the most frequently mentioned responses is that of a desire amongst young Catholics to now join the PSNI. This is, of course, a brilliant effect and the exact opposite of the murderers

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-66482303467885663282011-04-04T12:27:00.001+01:002011-04-04T12:27:55.825+01:00Politics biggest threat to peace, not Dissidents.

The awful and devastating news of the murder of a young police officer on Saturday was met by almost complete and utter condemnation by all across the political spectrum of Northern Ireland. For many Unionists, the words of Martin McGuniess will always ring hollow when condemning those who murder Police Officers and with good reason. However, I am personally just thankful that he says them at all

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-53679182094110211372011-03-31T10:59:00.001+01:002011-03-31T10:59:42.621+01:00"I only ever see you when there's an election!"

The above is an example of a typical complaint levelled at politicians by constituents, seemingly unhappy that their door hasn't been knocked more often by their elected representatives. At face value it seems a perfectly valid complaint but if you think about it, why is it a complaint at all? Do any of us actually sit at home thinking that what we really need right now is a knock on the door

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-18345929845362631282011-03-29T11:56:00.001+01:002011-03-29T11:56:17.144+01:00Responsibility for governing is on all of us

As we approach the elections there is, as usual, no shortage of people who point out that they won't be voting and will provide a variety of reasons to justify their decision. I use the word 'justify' because I believe that the decision to not exercise your right to vote does need to be justified. I am not in favour of compulsory voting, I don't believe that people should participate in the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-31617958444280412402011-03-28T10:47:00.001+01:002011-03-28T10:47:19.232+01:00NI Politics playing catch up with Social Media.

If people think that the importance of effective use of social media to political campaigns is overrated they should look closely at possibly the most successful political campaign of modern times: that of Barack Obama. Make no mistake - remove the social media element of Obama's campaign and he would still be the junior senator from Illinois. Social media didn't just help the Obama campaign, it

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-309034838167511802011-03-25T13:11:00.001Z2011-03-25T13:13:48.080ZUUP in need of Overriding Vision

The Ulster Unionist Party have had, by any account, a truly awful week: Party Vice Chair resigns after Michael McGimpsey decides not to go ahead with the new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin; Special Advisor to Danny Kennedy, Brian Crowe is dismissed after some quite serious allegations about his conduct; and to round up the bad week, after Basil McRea and John McAllister gift Stephen Nolan an

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-82817617341079381492011-03-08T10:40:00.000Z2011-03-08T10:40:24.639ZWomen in Politics & Boardrooms.

Seeing as today is International Women's Day, I thought it might be an idea to write about one of the big issues that is often raised as an example of where there is clear evidence that women are still not equal to men; that of the top levels of politics and business. There is no doubt that women are grossly under-represented in these areas. There is also no doubt (at least for the non sexist of

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-38751905309289275052011-03-03T11:09:00.000Z2011-03-03T11:09:34.694ZAlliance in danger of believing their own hype

It is almost expected, when talking about politics in Northern Ireland, for people to say that they just want politicians and their parties to focus on important issues such as health, education, employment etc. This is usually followed by the well used mantra that the people have had enough of tribal politics and want a shared society. Such talk is prolific and, understandably, is music to the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-45424842966781278042011-03-02T15:43:00.000Z2011-03-02T15:43:47.505ZHow can the public measure Value for Money from Councils?

One of the things that I always have a big problem with when it comes to public bodies is a distinct lack of publicly available information, in particular, performance information. Thanks to the Freedom of Information act, those who are so inclined can, if they know what they are looking for and how to ask for it, get information from public bodies and then use that data to help form their own

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-50359301413413713732011-03-02T11:47:00.000Z2011-03-02T11:47:39.324ZShould Sinn Fein have done better?

If you look at the results from the General Election in Ireland in simple terms, then Sinn Fein did brilliantly. They trebled their representation and Gerry Adams topped the poll in Louth. It can't be seen as anything other than a great result. Or can it? I think there has been a lack of proper critical analysis of just how good a performance Sinn Fein provided. I would wager, however, that there

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-33774905564599594712011-03-02T11:12:00.000Z2011-03-02T11:12:53.886ZDo we need more Christians in Politics?

On BBC Spotlight last night, the Environment Minister Edwin Poots, asserted that he believed more Christians need to get involved with politics. The minister was responding to a question from the audience which asked whether Christians were being unfairly persecuted by legislation, in particular the recent decision to reject a Christian couple from fostering a child because of their strong belief

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-57917173928171748632011-02-24T13:08:00.000Z2011-02-24T13:08:58.524ZA follow up on Arms

I may not have made it clear in my last post that, whilst I don't feel Arms trading as a whole is an evil thing, there are unquestionably those who undertake it in such a way that can be described as evil. The main point I was trying to make, though probably not very well, was that it is fair to criticise the means and manner in which we as a country trade arms, but that it was naive in the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-53243577362947314712011-02-23T13:23:00.002Z2011-02-23T13:26:15.133ZArms Trading: Not for the Naive

On Twitter, I follow a varied selection of political types from all camps and over the last few days those that I would class as Left Wing and/or Labour types have been quite vocal about their disgust at David Cameron embarking on a tour of the Middle East with a group of arms traders in tow. They have been asking if it is not a little distasteful and a touch ironic to be promoting democracy in

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-56422654567548777812011-02-23T11:11:00.004Z2011-02-23T11:15:21.651ZDaily Mail not fans of Law & Order

The Daily Mail love a story like this: Boss payouts to Thief An employer who found out one of his employees attempted to steal from him has been fined and ordered to pay out £5000 to the thief and cover court costs in excess of £8000. Why? Well, because when he found out about the attempted theft, he convened a couple of his mates, tied the chap up and, after some alleged (by the thief) physical

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-7962965888561466012011-02-23T10:41:00.000Z2011-02-23T10:41:13.328ZJustice Bill - David Ford not happy with McCrea

A quick post to say I was a little confused by the Justice Minister, David Ford when he spoke about the Justice Bill with Basil McCrea on the Nolan show this morning. Speaking first, David Ford seemed more than a little annoyed that Basil was raising issues with the bill in the first place and equally annoyed that he was only raising them now. Putting aside the particular issue that Basil McCrea

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-69198785777132785832011-02-22T13:15:00.001Z2011-02-22T13:15:04.828ZCommunity Groups: Fund them, Direct them, Support them.

There are community groups all over Northern Ireland. Some are fantastic, others not so much, but there is one thing they all have in common; there is not enough of the community involved with them. In my mind, every household should be aware of their community group and should be encouraged and welcomed into taking part. The best way to ensure this happens is for local authorities to provide

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-85517088155482710172011-02-22T12:13:00.001Z2011-02-22T12:14:39.521ZViews on uprisings

Like most, the recent uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and now Libya have fascinated me and to a certain level, excited me. What has really intrigued me about the events though is that all 4 countries are completely different. Yes, there are some commonalities which tie them together but then there are also many things that we in the UK share with most of the countries within Europe but were

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-25127343047592364552011-02-18T11:14:00.000Z2011-02-18T11:14:00.433ZWelfare Reforms: Labour must work with Tories.

The coalition government have announced their intention to reform welfare and the plans have been met with the expected derision and scathing criticism from most in the Labour Party. As the official opposition, Labour may feel that they have a duty to, well, oppose. It's not always the case though. On this particular issue, it is most definitely not what is needed. That is not to say that the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-61456809311197021432011-02-17T10:39:00.000Z2011-02-17T10:39:35.453ZIf Tom Elliot wants Opposition, he can have it.

Tom Elliot has made clear that he feels there should be a system of voluntary coalition in Stormont and effective opposition. Well, Tom, someone should have told you that both of those things are available to you now. The DUP must be delighted that Tom has given them yet another stick to beat him with; he is paraphrasing DUP policy. That they have been utterly unwilling to follow through with it

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-11773401682045770162011-02-16T10:58:00.001Z2011-02-16T11:03:42.153ZHow the UUP lost the 2011 election in 2006

After the election in May there is every chance that the First Minister will be Martin McGuinness. This is only possible in this election because of the actions of the DUP at St. Andrews. That is fact. Had they not changed the rules, the First Minister would remain a Unionist while Unionists were the largest delegation which is a near certainty in May. Now, the First Minister is nominated from

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-86421646976290180372011-02-15T10:57:00.001Z2011-02-15T11:00:02.349ZSinn Fein: The masters of 'On Message'

In all his years at No 10 and despite all the effort and bullying that he put in, Alastair Campbell never completely managed to get all of Labour singing from the same hymn sheet. Sinn Fein, however, seem to have perfected it. What's more, they've added a fanatical edge to their propaganda; they're not just right, they SO right that everyone else is against them. The leaders debate for the

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-45083704785830504572011-02-15T10:32:00.002Z2011-02-15T10:34:03.483ZUUP: Fix the pipe and the flow of problems will ease.

Charges levelled at the UUP are, more often than not, that of a party of indiscipline and indecision. It is, unfortunately a fair accusation on the most part and one the UUP have had little success in dealing with mostly down to a reluctance to admit there is a problem. They can't understand why the media haven't responded to their insistence that party moral is fine and everyone is working

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-69092452559802687922011-02-11T09:46:00.002Z2011-02-15T11:09:34.655ZPrisoners Voting - Is it a Human Rights issue at all?

Something which I think has not been properly addressed throughout the debate on Prisoners Voting is whether the right to vote is or should be considered a Human Right. For my part, I think not and here's why; voting is required for democracy and so by extension, the right to vote means the right to democratic government. Whilst I would love to see all states adopt democracy, I don't feel it is

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-3714473798455087372011-02-10T11:03:00.001Z2011-02-15T11:08:50.537ZThe small issue of Health.

Michael McGimpsey, the Health Minister is at loggerheads with Sammy Wilson, the Finance Minister. This in itself is not surprising nor it is it unique to Northern Ireland. Every minister wants more money and every Finance Minister tends to not want to give them it without a fight. Unfortunately for us in NI, the consequences of this spat are likely to be significant. I firmly believe those who

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-48626597940096295402011-02-01T10:42:00.001Z2011-02-15T11:09:53.675ZWhy Gerry Adams has let Sinn Fein down.

There has been much comment recently about Gerry Adams recent responses to questions on the economy. His opponents say that his inability to provide the answers to simple questions on child benefit & VAT rates show he is not knowledgeable enough to provide economic leadership. His supporters say that he doesn't need to know the minutiae of the economy to be able to offer an alternative. Whilst

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-42309330775399778122011-01-31T13:01:00.001Z2011-02-15T11:11:35.768ZAre Ed Balls & others really deficit deniers?

There is a common theme amongst right wing bloggers and commentators to refer to anyone who resists cuts as a deficit denier and their favourite target for this tag is Ed Balls. Unless I'm missing some hidden meaning, to be a deficit denier is surely to deny a deficit exists. Now, this would be a pretty odd thing to do considering that there is unquestionably a deficit and this is what the right

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-92180544876513497452011-01-27T12:47:00.002Z2011-02-15T11:11:59.104ZBigotry alive and well in some.

When Stephen Nolan introduced a caller onto the air this morning, he must have been punching the air with delight a couple of minutes later. He had managed to find a pure, unadulterated Irish Republican who was not prepared to cede any ground in her war against the British. Death and destruction were acceptable in the struggle to overthrow the British and have them banished from the North. Kids

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-63879901839226600112011-01-25T10:16:00.002Z2011-02-15T11:12:13.626ZThere is no defence for Keys & Gray

Ever since the story broke about Richard Keys and Andy Gray making sexist comments about a female official whilst they believed their microphones were off, there has been no shortage of people calling for them to be sacked. There has also been no shortage of people prepared to call in to Radio shows or post on internet forums that a big fuss has been made over nothing. I take issue with the logic

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-59505869524719930762011-01-24T10:57:00.001Z2011-02-15T11:12:29.237ZIsrael could learn a lesson from Northern Ireland.

Israel is a powerful state and with the USA firmly behind them can, if they wish, continue to live as they are for as long as they like. Yes, there is always a significant threat from attack and there is substantial security in their everyday lives. For most Israelis though, it is a price they gladly pay. For Palestinians, however, they live under consistent dominance from those who mistrust them

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-68687275678865631442011-01-20T12:54:00.000Z2011-01-20T12:54:51.893ZCutting money for Sports Development is short sighted.

I'm no deficit denier. I know that with less money available in the block grant, there are some things we can't afford to spend money on any more. However, the decision to axe a range of projects to build world class facilities across Northern Ireland is incredibly short sighted. This is one area of public spending that consistently, across the world, recoups it's outlay in terms of follow on

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-41362415476160461002011-01-20T10:50:00.000Z2011-01-20T10:50:11.278ZBeing a Christian does not give you the right to discriminate.

The couple who have just been fined for turning away a Gay couple from their hotel tried to use their faith as a defence for their actions. Fortunately, they lost and were quite rightly punished for their act of discrimination. The case was a simple one to win as far as I can see. They claimed that as the hotel was also their home they had the right to refuse entry. Unfortunately you can't

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-72170858418785853692011-01-18T10:30:00.000Z2011-01-18T10:30:53.129ZParty donations - Should they be public?

The Northern Ireland Office has decided to delay until 2013 a ruling that would bring Northern Ireland in line with the UK and the ROI and make public the names of those who have donated to political parties. The decision will be regarded by those who wish to see greater transparency in politics as a bad one. If you look at the decision based solely on those terms then it most definitely is. If,

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-89931658981002976392011-01-17T21:50:00.000Z2011-01-17T21:50:01.055ZIt's not enough to say the BNP are racist.

I was surprised to find out over the weekend that Raymond McCord is a supporter of the BNP. Raymond has been a high profile anti UVF campaigner ever since that organisation killed his son in 1997. Raymond has been universally praised for his work, carried out under constant threat from the UVF to bring his son's killers to justice and to show the UVF up for the violent criminal gang that they are

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-50891094083449354622011-01-13T11:18:00.000Z2011-01-13T11:18:59.099ZHypocrisy of the TUV

On the TUV Website, Jim Allister has commented on the plans by Social Development Minister Alex Atwood to relax restrictions on Sunday trading and allow shops to open for longer hours. Jim is upset at such plans. Why? Because Jim is a Christian and thinks Sunday is a holy day and should be reserved as such. Jim thinks the public should spend the morning in Church and the afternoon with family.

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-70709154253595726482011-01-12T11:08:00.001Z2011-01-12T11:10:31.592ZBilingual Road Signs show wrong direction

I have no problem with the Irish Language. I think it should be taught and I think funding should be provided to ensure that it stays a relevant and dynamic part of our culture. It is an awful shame that it has become such a divisive issue and is often used as a political tool. I think both sides are guilty of this when really, it should be an issue that connects people rather than divide them.

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-36951905530526436172011-01-11T11:08:00.000Z2011-01-11T11:08:02.630ZThe truth is that some tragedies are worse than others.

Listening to the news reports on the murder of Michaela Harte (I have used her maiden name purely because everyone else has) I couldn't help but feel that, as with the Jo Yeats murder, it is such a sad fact of life that some tragedies are just more important to us than others. Firstly, let me say that I am not criticising the coverage or trying to insinuate that the story wasn't important. What

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-27439482458292098052011-01-11T10:40:00.000Z2011-01-11T10:40:19.300ZAdversarial politics have their place, but it's not within the executive.

There is nothing wrong with adversarial politics. In fact, it is healthy and often essential in ensuring informed debate and productive outcomes. Parties holding each other to account across the chamber should ensure that those entering the fray have their facts correct and their arguments solid, knowing that they will be tested mercilessly by their opponents. Where it becomes a problem is when

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-25973724359687429822011-01-10T11:42:00.000Z2011-01-10T11:42:00.922ZA new leader for the Green Party in NI.

Or, to be accurate, a first leader of the Green Party in NI. Congratulations to Steven Agnew on his selection, though I would have been surprised if it was anyone else, considering his profile and base. Steven now has a challenge to ensure he can keep Brian Wilson's seat in the Assembly. It will be a battle for him, especially considering that Brian Wilson's wife, Anne, will be running against

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4196881040420329721.post-45929516114091390662011-01-10T11:11:00.000Z2011-01-10T11:11:16.597ZIf you are influential, you have to be responsible.

Sarah Palin and other well known and popular right wing firebrands did not explicitly instruct a young man to kill half a dozen people in Arizona at the weekend. What they are responsible for, is their efforts in creating an environment that polarises those with different views and opinions. Most will have seen the graphic, produced by Sarah Palin, of a list of Congressmen and Congresswomen that

Ed Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073644378009527072noreply@blogger.com0