Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 19/11/2009
We’ve been picking up a fair amount of frustration in and around the UCU - NF, that new force that seems reluctant to speak its name. Chekov gave pretty gentle vent to some of the frustrations being felt inside the party at Reg Empey’s reluctance to actually make a decision. So far the Tories have committed money and are building capacity at the Central Office end, with the addition of...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 13/11/2009
At the general election, whether it is held in March, April or May, Conservatives and Unionists will field a strong slate of candidates across eighteen constituencies in Northern Ireland. Today the Conservative party announced that Jonathan Caine will rejoin its team, becoming Chief of Staff to shadow secretary of state, Owen Paterson, in the run up to the poll. The appointment is a statement of intent...
Tory Politico (Free subscription) | 13/11/2009
Jonathan Caine is to leave Bell Pottinger’s Public Affairs practice and rejoin the Conservative team as chief of staff to the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Owen Paterson. Before moving to Bell Pottinger in 2007, Jonathan served as Assistant Director of the Conservative Research Department for 8 and a half years where he specialised in Northern Ireland. [...]
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
There was a strong turn out at a grand dinner this week in the Lords to celebrate the achievements of the integrated education movement. The feed was sponsored by Frank Carson and attracted a glittering array of supporters ranging from Peter Hain, Peter Brooke, Owen Paterson, Brian Mawhinney and Jane Kennedy to stars such as Frank Carson, Adrian Dunbar and Barry McGuigan - plus me and Mick.
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 03/11/2009
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary says a Tory government would not review ties with Libya even if no deal is reached on compensating victims of IRA violence The Tories have warned unionists that they cannot unravel diplomatic ties with Libya even if Muammar Gadaffi's regime refuses to compensate the victims of IRA violence. Owen Paterson, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, said it would be "incorrect"...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 24/10/2009
During the coverage of the UUP Conference today, BBC NI’s Jim Fitzpatrick did a quick interview with the Conservative Party’s Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, MP. Here’s a question and answer transcribed from that interview. [ Jim Fitzpatrick ] “Perhaps there is less of a tension on the constitutional issue in those areas, although Scotland excepted...
BBC NEWS | The Devenport Diaries (Free subscription) | 24/10/2009
I'm just back from the Europa hotel where I was helping out on our coverage of the Ulster Unionist conference. Inevitably there was less of a buzz about the gathering than last year's event when David Cameron turned up as the special guest. But the turnout appeared high with many left standing at the back, and William Hague's speech went down well. Sir Reg Empey used his speech to set out his stall...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 24/10/2009
Ladies and Gentlemen: Thank you for coming. I am delighted that so many of you are here today, demonstrating your commitment to the Party and the Union. As I have said on other occasions the grassroots of the UUP are the backbone of the party. I’m also very pleased that William Hague agreed to be our guest speaker … and I am grateful to him for taking time out of a very busy schedule to...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 21/10/2009
I just happened to be in Westminster this afternoon when first of all David Cameron breezed past followed shortly afterwards by a very sober looking Peter Robinson and a smiling, glad-handing Martin McGuinness as they made their way to the ‘putative’ Prime Minister’s official chambers… I managed to grab a quick interview with Owen Paterson shortly afterwards (of which more...
Jalopnik (Free subscription) | 12/10/2009
According to some traffic experts, "Nanny State" traffic lights and road signs don't make us safer. Instead, making our streets deliberately "naked" of speed bumps, chicanes and signs will make drivers more cautious. Watch CBS News Videos Online I watched the above Mo Rocca segment on CBS "This Morning" this weekend featuring Dr. Gerald Wilde, a professor of psychology...
A Pint of Unionist Lite (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009
So, one more time boys and girls, Owen Paterson, Friday in the Blue Blog:Yesterday morning I re-iterated the firm pledge that at the next general election the Conservatives will be the only party contesting every seat in every part of the United Kingdom. We’ll be demonstrating that the Conservative Party is a national party and a unionist partyThe Conservatives, but not necessarily the
BBC NEWS | The Devenport Diaries (Free subscription) | 08/10/2009
This blog has previously discussed the correct geographical description for these islands we live in. I got myself in hot water even before I had my first bowl of Mancunian cornflakes when I mentioned on Good Morning Ulster that the session of the Conservative conference which Sir Reg Empey is addressing today was headed "Great Britain". I'd taken that from the agenda linked to this page...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 08/10/2009
Jeff Peel’s been at the Tory party conference and yesterday came across Owen Paterson… who reassured him that the South Belfast Unionist Association would not block Conservative plans to stand candidates in all 18 Northern Ireland constituencies…
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 08/10/2009
OVER at ConservativeHome , Tory spokesman on Northern Ireland Owen Paterson confirms that UCUNF is standing Tory women and Catholics [his emphasis] in no-hope Ulster Unionist seats, somewhat reinforcing the view that both are second-class citizens in the UUP. To announce it on the eve of Sir Reg’s so-called historic speech to the Tory conference merely reinforces the divisions in the UCUNF camp...
ConservativeHome's YourPlatform (Free subscription) | 07/10/2009
Owen Paterson MP is Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. We have made a great deal of progress over the past year in Northern Ireland in achieving our main objectives. These are to develop our relationship with the Ulster...
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