Moderate Tom

[SKBAC]

Tom Elliot, ever the diplomat, caught my eye with this one...


Ireland's travails a salutary tale for breakaway Scots

The Scottish First Minister poses a bigger threat to the Union than the IRA did. He must be faced down, says Tom Elliott

....namely a century of economic struggle, culminating in a Celtic Tiger boom which has now bust and left the Republic having to go cap-in-hand to Brussels and Berlin, seeking bailouts from the European Central Bank and - of all places - Westminster.

The crisis affecting the eurozone is a stark warning for anyone seriously thinking about breaking away from the United Kingdom. Larger European countries and economies than Scotland are having their economic policies dictated by Brussels and many are in utter chaos.

It's not so long ago that Alex Salmond was assuring Scots that they had nothing to fear economically from independence and extolling the virtues of the 'arc of prosperity' made up of the Nordic countries and the Republic of Ireland as proof that smaller nations could prosper in 21st century Europe. This was until a worldwide recession saw Iceland go bankrupt and the Republic of Ireland be overwhelmed by debt.



Read more: Ireland's travails a salutary tale for breakaway Scots - News Analysis, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

He has Fianna Fail taking pot-shots back at him now.


I get his point and all, but why does the supposed leader of 'moderate unionism' conduct himself in such an abrasive, antagonistic manner? At a time when everyone else is trying to promote good relations within these islands, moderate Tom seems more interested in sh*t-stirring. He did the same when he came down to Dublin for the Queen's visit and decided that the best way to shmooze with the locals would be to tell us all how he considered Dublin to be a 'British city'. Has the man any substance to him at all beyond the intermittent bouts of muppetry?

[Garza]

Keep it coming Tom!!! Fascinating to see him killing off the UUP one comment at a time.

OP, I don't think the UUP as a whole or Tom are moderate to be honest.

[between the bridges]

good piece by our tom, lovely fellow, he is what he is a straight talking farmer, as the advert says ‘it does what it says on the tin’. He is an Ulster unionist talking up the union what a shock!!!
Unlike SF/IRA paying lip-service to a UI that they don’t want (well at least not until they could be sure they would be in power)

And pray tell me what is wrong with pointing out what a failure Irelands decision to leave the UK was?

[dunno]

NI is every bit as handout reliant as the 26, daft comment. He should be angling for new tax varying powers in return for being a good boy, if he's allowed into power.

[Schomberg]

I'm failing to see what all the outrage is about.

This was until a worldwide recession saw Iceland go bankrupt and the Republic of Ireland be overwhelmed by debt.

Has he said anything incorrect? He's not saying anything different really to what unionist politicians on the mainland are saying to the Scots. Just less window dressing. Salmond was recently pushing the idea of the Euro in Scotland - despite everything that's happened!

I've no idea what he's like as a political representative on the ground or what he does for his constituents, but he's always been good to us. Nice man, straight shooter and very welcoming.

[between the bridges]

I'm failing to see what all the outrage is about.



Has he said anything incorrect? He's not saying anything different really to what unionist politicians on the mainland are saying to the Scots. Just less window dressing. Salmond was recently pushing the idea of the Euro in Scotland - despite everything that's happened!

I've no idea what he's like as a political representative on the ground or what he does for his constituents, but he's always been good to us. Nice man, straight shooter and very welcoming.

he is highly respected by the oppressed minority in fermanagh.

[SKBAC]

good piece by our tom, lovely fellow, he is what he is a straight talking farmer, as the advert says ‘it does what it says on the tin’. He is an Ulster unionist talking up the union what a shock!!!
Unlike SF/IRA paying lip-service to a UI that they don’t want (well at least not until they could be sure they would be in power)

And pray tell me what is wrong with pointing out what a failure Irelands decision to leave the UK was?

Does every single post have to include the obligatory 'whatabout the IRA'? Does it never get boring?

I just thought that his choice of language goes against the whole zeitgeist of moving away from the emnities of the past. If northern politicians and southern politicans are going to take regular pot-shots at eachother it undermines the whole 'moving on' thing imo.

Tom Elliot is like a caricature of Ulster Prods, so it's interesting that yis all seem to lap that kind of thing up.

[Cruimh]

The difference between the Orange and Green. Tell it as it is or Mental Reservation.

[SKBAC]

I'm failing to see what all the outrage is about.



Has he said anything incorrect? He's not saying anything different really to what unionist politicians on the mainland are saying to the Scots. Just less window dressing. Salmond was recently pushing the idea of the Euro in Scotland - despite everything that's happened!

I've no idea what he's like as a political representative on the ground or what he does for his constituents, but he's always been good to us. Nice man, straight shooter and very welcoming.

Schomberg,do you have no sense of loyalty to the place in which you grew up whatsoever? Someone snipes at the South and your first instinct is to hit the 'like button'. That's why you're so 'alienated' in this neck of the woods pal, you're a hard man to like.

[Cass]

good piece by our tom, lovely fellow, he is what he is a straight talking farmer, as the advert says ‘it does what it says on the tin’. He is an Ulster unionist talking up the union what a shock!!!
Unlike SF/IRA paying lip-service to a UI that they don’t want (well at least not until they could be sure they would be in power)

And pray tell me what is wrong with pointing out what a failure Irelands decision to leave the UK was?

I'm sure we would still be the second most attractive country in the world for FDI after Singapore if we were in the UK. I don't see the appeal in becoming Sovietised like NI, which economy is utterly dependant on the state.