to think you can't smear corbyn for supposed sympathy to the IRA and supposed willingness to do deals with the SNP and THEN do a deal yourself with the DUP?

[deeedeee]

How the hell do the tories think that they will get away with this?

so they still own the media right ?

I think people fundamentally misunderstand Northern Irish politics. The choice is between the DUP or Sinn Fein. For those who wish to remain part of the UK the only option is to vote DUP.

I think there is also some confusion over who can be regarded as a terrorist. I think the fact so many people outside of NI had never actually heard of the DUP may be a problem as in the scramble to educate ourselves on this party, in the wake of a conservative win which many find difficult to accept, we may be tempted to simply brand them as a party of terrorists, which is inaccurate and potential detrimental to the process going forward.

We are where we are, and there may be some benefit to a coalition with a party whose views on brexit are less staunch than the conservatives, and I think there may be some benefit to NI because as all eyes turn towards the DUP their stance on female autonomy and the rights of same sex couples may be challenged more loudly than it has been to date.

I don't think we should view this in terms of good and bad. As I say it is what we have whether we want it or not, and in terms of putting the best foot forward I think we all need to be more open minded.

I did not agree with Corbyns dealings with the IRA.
But this is worse.

I'm not willing to be open minded when it comes to homophobic, anti-abortion, climate change denying nutjobs.

Yes. I think exactly this. YANBU at all.

the English are going to feel sorry for us over in NI soon and who we have to deal with. Did you know that dinosaurs didn't exist?? and it's perfectly okay to incite riots about a flag. worst bit is that these people are the only ones who will be taking their seats in parliament and represent us. I could cry

London Evening Standard ( edited by George Osborne, so pretty right wing) had a side column of mini bio of each of the DUP MPs. No mention if terrorism but the homophobic, anti abortion and expenses fiddling parts did not paint them in a positive light. Are they mixed up in the green energy fiasco too?

On the matter of flags, I think most people in mainland England would be a little confused if they were told they had to fly the flag of another country in opposition to their own flag, which isn't to condone riots of any sort. The problem with NI is that it is sometimes the extreme minority from both "sides" are the ones who end up in the press. The actions of some are not the thoughts and views of all.

Citykat, yes they were heavily involved with it.

Syc4more... didn't the DUP oust the far more reasonable SDLP though? Which suggests that, on the Loyalist side, there is a choice apart from DUP.

And I'm getting my information on their politicians and members being terrorists from friends in NI, some of whom have been affected by their acts. So I don't think I'm coming from a place of ignorance at all.

Ian Paisley senior who founded the DUP virtually singledly started the troubles in the 1960s, although the media back then liked to think that Bernadette Devlin was also responsible (for asking for one man one vote, I presume). I remember it well and I was born into the protestant side. Awful, awful people and they remind me why I left the country and have never returned. Damn right they have strong terrorist connections.

@LaneKaneLeftNippleTassle
You can have as many links up thread as you like, but I'm afraid the DUP are not linked directly with terrorism, not like Sinn Fein which was a political wing of a terrorist organisation.
The DUP are nasty, corrupt far right bigots but not terrorists.

So spare a thought for we poor inhabitants of the north, we’ve had these useless fuckers for decades, you’ll only have to look at them for a couple of years.

It took until university and a very very good lecturer for me to have the slightest idea about NI. We used to have a running bet about how many times he could fit "IRA" into lectures about something else.

It seems that no one on the mainland has the slightest clue about the issues there. Abortion and the border to name two. Really scary that now the DUP have so much power and the rUK know nothing about them.

Damn right they have strong terrorist connections.
Yes and I agree with you on Paisley (while not participating in violence inn many ways he was worse than those who are), but this is different to being the political wing of a terrorist organisation, which is what Sinn Fein were or being actual terrorists which is what the IRA were.

I don't want them in government but to say they are terrorists in the same way the IRA were is just not right.
Having said that JC did only talk to the IRA and not go into government with them so in many ways it's not a comparable situation.

I used to be able to do a passable Ian Paisley impression. Maybe I should dust it off.

You're all fucking experts on Northern Irish politics now, aren't you 🙄(Obviously excluding those who come from/actually have done more than read the DUP/Sinn fein Wiki page at 3am this morning)

Both are as bad as each other. Corbyn did fuck all for the peace process. He just likes to pal around with the edgy underdog. See also his lov ins with Hamas.

The DUP colluded in plenty of of terrorism and have pretty dark history. But that hasn't bothered anyone beofre so not exactly sure why it bothers people now. You are all just getting a taste of the shit that people from NI have had to put up with for decades.

I do predict another election before the end of the year though. As I don't think the more sane factions of the torys will put up with their misogynistic crap for very long

Syc4more, if you are unionist you also have the choice of the UUP, or even the Alliance Party.

So, the fact that recent leaders of the DUP took part in terrorist acts doesn't mean they are terrorists? And that the present leader has no shame in meeting with Loyalist Paramilitaries doesn't make her complicit in their actions?

That makes complete sense

Free, I get where you're coming from, but not everyone was unbothered by Loyalist action in NI before today. The entire Orange Order's behaviour has been revolting from the get go, it just doesn't get discussed often on here (that I've seen). They are, as you say, as bad as each other.

Frightening what some people will do for power. Wish she'd just resign and go off into the sunset with her billionaire husband. Hope the people of ni aren't fucked over for the sake of ten votes.

Actually- a national spotlight on the DUP would be no bad thing for whatever reason. Might show them up for what they are.

I have called Corbyn out as a terrorist sympathiser. And got a hard time here for it.

I'm also calling out the DUP as terrorist sympathisers at best and actual terrorists some of them.

It's a disgrace.

And as for the rest of their policies. God help us all. You guys have no idea how bad they actually are.

(From Northern Ireland.)

Hebron school? Do any of you (outside Northern Ireland) even know what that is?

You should be afraid for your rights. Don't be a gay disabled woman under DUP

And who can forget the disgraceful behaviour around Holy Cross School? Grown men throwing stones and obscenities at little girls.

Having been born and raised in NI I'm not suggesting you are ignorant, just that if you seek information from one side or the other you will here different versions of events, it's not just as clear cut as they did this or that.

And this is speaking as someone whose life was directly impacted by the actions of an IRA terrorist.

When I voted there I voted down the middle, alliance/sdlp, but these aren't viable options in Northern Ireland right now, despite what people may think. If you want to maintain the union a UUP vote splits the unionist vote making SF the largest party and alliance have aligned themselves with nationalists in recent years so they can't be called upon to maintain a union either.

Also second those who say a ten minute flick through Wikipedia doesn't even begin to give colour to the complexity of the situation.

the behaviour around holy cross was shocking.

But some forget that those girls going to school were protected every day, regardless of the political affiliations of their parents, by the British Army and the RUC/PSNI (the RUC was disbanded and the PSNI formed during the dispute)

And I don't know anyone who does not condemn completely and utterly the actions of those who harassed and picketed, threw missisles and all the rest.