Daphne Trimble's blog

A good "clean" campaign..... really? Hon...

2010-07-20T15:07:02.196+01:00

A good "clean" campaign..... really? Honestly?

If you really believe that your campaign in Lagan Valley was "clean" then you deserve to have lost.

If Nelson gets his way and gets his creationism co...

2010-07-15T18:10:37.790+01:00

If Nelson gets his way and gets his creationism corner in the Ulster Museum, I, as a committed Scientologist, would like to see my religion featured in some way shape or form also.

"But if this had been a PR election we would ...

2010-05-15T14:51:52.513+01:00

"But if this had been a PR election we would have won three seats"

- but it wasn't, and you didn't.

"and if it was an Assembly election we would have added to the eighteen seats gained last time."

- but it wasn't an Assembly election, and in any case this is disputable; combined UUP+Tory vote in 2007 was 15.4%, in last week's election it was 15.2%. You can posit a theoretical gain by claiming some of Rodney Connor's votes, I suppose; but they were not cast for a UCUNF candidate.

"This is not the result of a party or a project rejected by the electorate."

You won no seats. That is not the result of a party or a project with widespread support among the electorate.

Daphne - what a very sensible assessment. I couldn...

2010-05-14T21:54:03.573+01:00

Daphne - what a very sensible assessment. I couldn't agree more!

Donaldson was schooled by politicians of a bygone ...

2010-05-03T13:00:21.396+01:00

Donaldson was schooled by politicians of a bygone age and has always practiced the politics of a bygone age. It's time to vote for change

Well at last it is an opportunity to vote in a can...

2010-05-02T17:50:50.269+01:00

Well at last it is an opportunity to vote in a candidate who will actually form part of the Government. Why would anyone want to vote in a NI nationalist party (e.g. DUP) knowing they will form part of the opposition. If people want to influence the tough decisions, then they need to be involved in them. It is all too easy for DUP to say that they would resist Conservative plans to reduce waste becasue they know they will never have the power to take such a decision. Whilst Donaldson is a good politician, I think is fooling his electorate on this occassion. Although I'd prefer it if Daphne disposed of her link to the NI nationalist UUP, I will definitely be backing her to support in bringing about REAL change in this part of the UK. Best of luck to Daphne and all her campaign team.

> ... Councillor Ronnie Crawford, who has just ...

2010-04-18T21:12:57.791+01:00

> ... Councillor Ronnie Crawford, who has just completed his term as Mayor of Lisburn

He completed his term when the current DUP mayor was elected on 22 June 2009. That's ten months ago!

If it was a PR do - you might have got a 2nd pref ...

2010-04-14T22:48:40.947+01:00

If it was a PR do - you might have got a 2nd pref if it wasn't for the tory tie up!
Alliance voter

Anne Widdecombe beautifully describes Britain’s Th...

2010-04-06T11:12:45.607+01:00

Anne Widdecombe beautifully describes Britain’s Three Ugly Sisters a) Claims Culture b) Rights Culture c) Political Correctness. Rights Culture is out of control and the UK Bill of Rights a sensible measure. I am 'to be convinced' on requirements for a specific Northern Ireland 'addendum', but look forward to seeing further proposals after the election.

Well said Daphne. If the Northern Ireland electora...

2010-04-06T09:27:11.044+01:00

Well said Daphne. If the Northern Ireland electorate want a real say and ability to catalyse change at Westminster, the (only) and therefore clear choice is the UUP. I fear the DUP will continue with a myopic and introspective programme as evidenced throughout its 'period of resurgence'.

Buck: noted and point taken.

2010-04-01T16:40:35.780+01:00

Buck: noted and point taken.

you seriously need to work on presentation. the ab...

2010-03-31T16:56:07.828+01:00

you seriously need to work on presentation. the above is a disgrace

I agree with the UUP link-up with the Conservative...

2010-03-02T13:22:14.798Z

I agree with the UUP link-up with the Conservatives. But I don't think the people are ready for another Trimble on the ballot paper. We will not easily forget what your husband did: Armed terrorists in NI Government; Disbandment of the RUC; release of terrorist prisoners while the RoI kept in the killers of Garda McCabe; formal rights of everyone in NI be part of the 'Irish Nation'.

David Trimble let us down on so many occasions. The people are still angry with the Trimble brand name.

Daphne, I'm going to ask the naive question ....

2010-01-24T20:20:53.426Z

Daphne,

I'm going to ask the naive question ... why is "the prospect of being deputy to Martin McGuinness is not palatable"?

If the two positions are truly co-equal - and we see plenty of evidence for the power of veto over executive business - then the only difference is that the largest party doesn't get the extra word "deputy" stuck in front of "First Minister".

So what would be so bad about any unionist party respecting mathematics and showing leadership by appointing a deputy first minister if they were numerically smaller than Sinn Fein (or the SDLP if it came to that!)

Surely it's time for the I-want-to-be-bigger-than-you political games to end, and for politicians on all side to show leadership, and commitment to making institutions work the way they were set up and agreed upon?

My five year old is slowly learning that you don't *have* to win at every game. Maybe I could send her round to pass the message on to some politicians?

The DUP are going to get what's coming to them...

2010-01-23T23:56:04.905Z

The DUP are going to get what's coming to them as long as the UUP choose not to throw them a lifeline.

When it comes to SF becoming the biggest party in the Assembly the UUP ought to state that it isn't interested in the post of DFM, but will not stand in the way of the DUP, who created the current system, taking the DFM post.

They made their bed and now they must lie in it.

In agreement with Barry, we have (all) had to face...

2010-01-17T17:46:25.012Z

In agreement with Barry, we have (all) had to face some realities and look to the future with greater pragmatism and focus on compromise. This (I feel) is permeating mainstream Unionist opinion, and coupled with recent fortunes for the DUP will continue to yield significant UUP gains. My view is we will achieve this through the best policies and a mobilisation of "Unionist Unity".

The electorate having now witnessed (at some lengt...

2010-01-17T16:25:33.858Z

The electorate having now witnessed (at some length) the contributions (or lack thereof) of the DUP is now returning to a more sensible ‘equilibrium’. What I do somewhat fear is a cycle of see-saw Unionism with one hue being in vogue for a period, then another. The TUV might “add another patch to the quilt”, but I really struggle to see what they offer beyond vote fragmentation.

I think the UUP has the right strategy in terms of approach to political normalisation and strengthening the ‘east / west’ (excuse the cliché) relationship with Cameron. This can only be sensible, and is (I say with sadness) often in contrast to the myopia of inward-looking DUP strategists. I feel confident of a rise in fortunes at Westminster, doorstep reaction and the result in Craigavon being encouraging metrics.

This is all very encouraging - and the events of t...

2010-01-07T19:45:17.905Z

This is all very encouraging - and the events of the last 24 hours will hardly have given the DUP a lift.

Good luck and, more particularly, enjoy your new b...

2010-01-03T12:15:51.528Z

Good luck and, more particularly, enjoy your new blog. I've been "at it" for two years with mine!

Tim

hi daphne - good to see you on the blogs. best wis...

2010-01-02T12:33:58.190Z

hi daphne - good to see you on the blogs. best wishes for 2010.!