[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

DUC and Sinn Fein are political parties are they not. If there is nothing in the rules that says they cannot form an alliance with a government then to keep bleating on about any of them doing so is just tactics. Take it up with the political rule-makers. I have no doubt in my mind if JC had been in the position of having to form an alliance with Sinn Fein he would have. Other Labour leaders have done so with the DUC.

As for the 'bribe' - the DUC are supporting and working with Government - it is an alliance - therefore they are entitled to some kind of consideration when money is allocated.

Who?

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Who?

Well Sinn Féinn don't even take their Westminster seats so no deals would or could be done with them.
There shouldn't be either.
Equally the DUP should not be in any national UK govt deal either.

They were sounded out by Gordon Brown as to how strong any opposition to Labour they had in 2010.
Their 8 MPs then hardly any relevance to either major party at that time.

This moaning at Sinn Féinn is pointless, they were and are a vital element to the peace process in N Ireland and if they were not part of it,the peace process could not likely even exist.

[jet]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Well Sinn Féinn don't even take their Westminster seats so no deals would or could be done with them.
There shouldn't be either.
Equally the DUP should not be in any national UK govt deal either.

They were sounded out by Gordon Brown as to how strong any opposition to Labour they had in 2010.
Their 8 MPs then hardly any relevance to either major party at that time.

This moaning at Sinn Féinn is pointless, they were and are a vital element to the peace process in N Ireland and if they were not part of it,the peace process could not likely even exist

Yes, it was so good of them to agree to give the IRA the heads up to stop killing people when they finally realised it was getting them nowhere and their arms were becoming seriously depleted. They were bribed with amnesty from prosecution and freeing all their murderers from prison, alongside many other benefits. Imagine Labour having to bribe people to stop murdering - yet it was worth it to save many more lives.
ALL the parties were a vital element in the peace process. It could never have worked without everyone agreeing. John Hume, the SDLP leader, got the Nobel Peace Prize, as did David Trimble, the Unionist Party leader for their work. Did any Sinn Fein members? Of course not, and we all know why. Martin McGuiness did an excellent peace time job but it should never be forgotten that as an IRA Chief he ordered the murder of many people.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by jet

Yes, it was so good of them to agree to give the IRA the heads up to stop killing people when they finally realised it was getting them nowhere and their arms were becoming seriously depleted. They were bribed with amnesty from prosecution and freeing all their murderers from prison, alongside many other benefits. Imagine Labour having to bribe people to stop murdering - yet it was worth it to save many more lives.
ALL the parties were a vital element in the peace process. It could never have worked without everyone agreeing. John Hume, the SDLP leader, got the Nobel Peace Prize, as did David Trimble, the Unionist Party leader for their work. Did any Sinn Fein members? Of course not, and we all know why. Martin McGuiness did an excellent peace time job but it should never be forgotten that as an IRA Chief he ordered the murder of many people.

There were murders on both sides, please don't attempt to suggest unionists were entirely blameless. Blood was spilt, that's a given.

For me there is no entirely right or entirely wrong for either extreme, it had to end and thankfully it did. This deal smacks of exoneration, no wonder it sticks in Sinn Feins craw.

[jet]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

There were murders on both sides, please don't attempt to suggest unionists were entirely blameless. Blood was spilt, that's a given.

For me there is no entirely right or entirely wrong for either extreme, it had to end and thankfully it did. This deal smacks of exoneration, no wonder it sticks in Sinn Feins craw.

I was replying to Joeys comment about Sinn Fein - you know, the one I bolded.
It's a given that Loyalists weren't entirely blameless surely?

Sinn Fein would have no right to have anything stick in their craw after the bribe they accepted to halt the killings.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by jet

I was replying to Joeys comment about Sinn Fein - you know, the one I bolded.
It's a given that Loyalists weren't entirely blameless surely?

Sinn Fein would have no right to have anything stick in their craw after the bribe they accepted to halt the killings.

Then what is your issue? Out of interest was there any Operation Demetrius for unionists?...

[jet]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Then what is your issue? Out of interest was there any Operation Demetrius for unionists?...

I think you already know the answer to that - yes, there was for some Loyalists, but it was mainly Republicans interned.

The IRA started the Troubles with their bombing campaign - killing thousands, among them innocent women and children. Peace descended when they stopped. Does that say anything to you?

Internment was introduced at a time when the bombing was vicious, it was thought it would curtail their activities and save lives, but it only made things worse. The Loyalists's main way of operating was not with bombs but to shoot mainly innocent Catholics in retaliation, (which is of course wrong), but not killing masses of people including children in restaurants, bars, during fun days out, in the street etc with bombs.

I lived here during it all, I suffered at the hands of the IRA as did thousands of others. I have never once seen you outright condemn them or their official political party, Sinn Fein, (and you are not the only one, tbf) yet you love to criticise the DUP. Is that because they don't like Corbyn, the iRA supporter? Or do you sympathise with them like he does?

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Who?