UUP & SDLP get together to fight DUP & SF.

[st333ve]

SDLP Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has been the first nationalist party to address the Ulster Unionist annual conference, she recieved a rapturous applause afterin saying its "no surrender" no the DUP and SF led government.

"The SDLP's Margaret Ritchie said the majority parties were trying to create a stranglehold on government
Attempts by anyone to establish a stranglehold in government must be resisted by all of us here." The minister reiterated her desire to build thousands of social houses for the less well off and highlighted regeneration projects like the Victoria Square housing and shopping development in the centre of Belfast
Most political compacts do not last forever. Especially where they have little underpinning, other than cynicism and a desire to dominate. I believe my party and your party, in our different ways, can fight back and must do so with vigour"

Both the SDLP and the UUP desire to tackle SF and DUP in stormont over their poor performance, and share the same concerns over loyalist paramilitary funding, the gianst causeway privitisation and the maze stadium.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid ... 065739.stm?

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaki ... king37.htm

[Riadach]

Excellent news, parliamentary democracy only works with a credible opposition.

[PatMcL]

Excellent news, parliamentary democracy only works with a credible opposition.

Then they would need to resign their seats on the collective Executive and go formally into opposition, rather than have a semi-detached approach.

[TradCat]

I think semi-detachment is a legitimate tactic for a smaller party in a non-voluntry coalition.

[PatMcL]

I think semi-detachment is a legitimate tactic for a smaller party in a non-voluntry coalition.

It is a tactic yes, but not formal opposition.

[Tiernanator]

I am sure we are all shaking in our boots steve333. SDLP/UUP I don't think so. Middle class people of the world unite, we have nothing to lose but our 4x4s.

[Limerick Lad]

Excellent news, parliamentary democracy only works with a credible opposition.

Then they would need to resign their seats on the collective Executive and go formally into opposition, rather than have a semi-detached approach.

This was discussed on the BBC's Sunday lunchtime politics show and apparently it would require a major change in the legislation under which the current power sharing executive operates for the SDLP and/or the UUP to depart from the Executive. As was demanded by SF in particular either all parties reaching a certain electoral mandate are included in the Executive or there can be no legitimacy to any power sharing government formed.
I would say be careful what you wish for or it might happen.

[odie1kanobe]

As I pointed out in the topic on FF going north they are not just going north to pick up SDLP and some SFer's. There is a unionist vote to go for.

[PatMcL]

Excellent news, parliamentary democracy only works with a credible opposition.

Then they would need to resign their seats on the collective Executive and go formally into opposition, rather than have a semi-detached approach.

This was discussed on the BBC's Sunday lunchtime politics show and apparently it would require a major change in the legislation under which the current power sharing executive operates for the SDLP and/or the UUP to depart from the Executive. As was demanded by SF in particular either all parties reaching a certain electoral mandate are included in the Executive or there can be no legitimacy to any power sharing government formed.
I would say be careful what you wish for or it might happen.

Why would I need to be careful, I haven't wished for anything?

[Riadach]

Wouldn't that be rather similar the to the french parliamentary system, where one is awarded ministerial positions based on one's representation wthin the parliament, as opposed to which coalition group one was from. Therefore if a social democrat wins a majority, it does not mean that a member of the far right won't get a ministerial position. There are still oppositions and coalitions though, as well as a caustic political atmosphere.