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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think people in Northern Ireland are too apathetic and the consequences will be a strong DUP win today at the ballet boxes?

29 replies

abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 17:51

So many of our friends have said they are not voting today because it is only for local council elections. Many say our councils are not powerful enough to make a difference.

My thoughts are that surely we need to send a message to the DUP to get the fuck back to work!

Interested in others thoughts?

OP posts:
hopeishere · 18/05/2023 18:02

Possibly. Do they usually get a low turnout?

Everyone knows Assembly will be back in Autumn with a massive bung to reverse all the doom and gloom announcements they're currently making.

Original poster
abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 18:07

no turn out is usually highest in NI compared to rest of uk. usually 55% or above. However DUP voters are strongest turn out. (Bitterness runs deep)

What makes you think stormont will be back in Autumn?

OP posts:
dumple · 18/05/2023 18:13

I've voted.

MadeinBelfast · 18/05/2023 18:16

It seemed busy at my polling station. It's a bit of a DUP area but if they lose seats here it will hopefully send a strong message.

Original poster
abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 18:31

Our area was the same. DUP candidates and supporters at the door and tonight I can hear a flute band playing in the carpark. (poll station in community center couple streets away from here)

I'm going to watch the results carefully. If i believed in God i'd pray lol.

OP posts:
CMZ2018 · 18/05/2023 18:34

Hopefully yeah

Abhannmor · 18/05/2023 18:37

Someone said of the DUP - ' it doesn't matter where they stand because they won't sit' . Which used to be said of Sinn Féin.

I wonder of Greens and Alliance will do well ....

Cleebope2 · 18/05/2023 18:37

I voted Green, my husband voted Green, my son voted Green. If everyone did that all our problems would be solved. I do feel apathetic so have almost given up on the big parties. But I won’t waste my vote.

Original poster
abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 18:44

Agreed @Cleebope2. I voted Greens and alliance then independent so did daughter and husband. "Vote till ya Boke" wasn't that the mantra when they explain PR at school.

OP posts:
ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 18/05/2023 18:44

When I went to vote, there was one other person behind me and I was straight in and out. Not another sinner to be seen. That said, I voted at 9.15am after the school run. I always find that those who don't vote are the first to whinge when things don't change.

Clarinet1 · 18/05/2023 18:49

Sorry, I can’t help laughing at the idea of Arlene Foster pirouetting on a box in a tutu! (Typo I the title).

Original poster
abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 19:08

@Clarinet1 Flip that's me and my bad temper not reading my tying before sending. I hope I never have to see snarlene (not a typo) in a tutu

OP posts:
mrsfeatherbottom · 18/05/2023 19:22

abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 18:44

Agreed @Cleebope2. I voted Greens and alliance then independent so did daughter and husband. "Vote till ya Boke" wasn't that the mantra when they explain PR at school.

I voted til I boked! Green first, then Alliance, SDLP and UUP, if only to stop the TUV or DUP getting any transferable votes.

Polling station was quite quiet (other people but I didn't have to queue) but I went at 9:30 this morning so not peak time.

Original poster
abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 19:29

I wonder is mumsnet representative, I only know one mum at my sons secondary school and she is a DUP canvasser. I asked her what she liked about them. She said her dad always voted DUP so she does too. This is an attitude i don't understand. I have yet to meet someone to convince me
of their virtues.

OP posts:
TheLoupGarou · 18/05/2023 19:33

Alliance, Green, and 3 x SDLP for me then I bunged a couple of transfers to the shinners. It was quiet when I went ( about 9.30) but steady. DH said there was a small queue when he went at about half six this evening

Bodenesque · 18/05/2023 19:41

This is a local government election and I vote on the candidates work records.I work closely with local government in my area and you certainly get to know who works for the community. In this case it's not my first choice to vote for dup but if the other candidate wasn't as strong I'd have no hesitation voting Dup.Vote for who you can get in rather than who can keep out.

mercibucketedyeo · 18/05/2023 19:54

I have a government job that means I'm the only person that the local representatives can write to when they've got a particular problem in our area. My husband has a similar job, although is more senior.

So I know who is lying to me when they're at my front door and explaining to me how they're engaging with my Dept to tackle these particular issues, as I deal with the issues and write the responses.

I voted accordingly.

A big problem for me is a lot of the representatives' objectives are of no concern to me. Obviously I'm pleased that such and such got the local men shed some new garden implements, but as I live in a middle class area - the representatives seem to disregard our needs in favour of the estates.

I know how I sound, I'm not as unpleasant in real life. Promise.

hopeishere · 18/05/2023 20:19

abstractplantpot · 18/05/2023 18:07

no turn out is usually highest in NI compared to rest of uk. usually 55% or above. However DUP voters are strongest turn out. (Bitterness runs deep)

What makes you think stormont will be back in Autumn?

I don't think the DUP can hold out forever. I think their MPs don't care but I think the MLAs do want to be working. It's about finding the golden bridge so they don't lose face.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/05/2023 20:24

I’m English and not sure l understand NI politics. But can l ask?

Have the DUP basically spat their dummy out because Sinn Fein did so well?

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 18/05/2023 20:24

Alliance all the way here, then voted till I boked. Fingers crossed. Between the carnage of Brexit and Stormont I’m a bit disillusioned atm, but maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Cleebope2 · 18/05/2023 20:31

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/05/2023 20:24

I’m English and not sure l understand NI politics. But can l ask?

Have the DUP basically spat their dummy out because Sinn Fein did so well?

Yes you re right but of course they will never admit that and say it is all because of the Brexit protocol. This is only a local council election but the next assembly election will be more telling. I’m just voting for local issues this time, to preserve our green spaces and biodiversity.

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 18/05/2023 20:55

Clarinet1 · 18/05/2023 18:49

Sorry, I can’t help laughing at the idea of Arlene Foster pirouetting on a box in a tutu! (Typo I the title).

🤣🤣 there's an image that's stuck in my head for the rest of the evening

ademanlu · 18/05/2023 20:56

I wasn't going to go but eventually did - there was a bigger queue for the chip van outside than in the polling station and I was straight in and out - we seem to have few of the previous councillors standing again that would have got my vote and there has been no one round the door bar the DUP - it all seems very meh! Will be interested to see the turnout as by 5pm not even 25% of those eligible in our polling station had voted (they had the figures on the wall and DD spied them). 3 DUP candidates on the paper plus one who is now an Independent- will be interested to see how he does although I suspect people will just vote DUP as that's what they have always done with scant regard for what the policies are!

Waggytail · 18/05/2023 21:52

Voted this morning. Is it just me or were the campaigns really ropey? Like no one really cared that much? Only received leaflets through the door from two parties (and one of them contained a grammar error 😁) Also half the names on the ballot I wouldn't be able to put a face to because they didn't even bother putting up posters.

Ended up voting Alliance for my first preferences as I had emailed all my local MLAs recently re. an issue and Naomi Long was the only one who bothered to respond.

Abhannmor · 18/05/2023 21:53

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/05/2023 20:24

I’m English and not sure l understand NI politics. But can l ask?

Have the DUP basically spat their dummy out because Sinn Fein did so well?

Seems to be the case. It's not true they all want to take a Tardis back to 1690. But many of them would settle for 1960. Brexit seemed to hold out that promise. Boris said the GFA was 'just a footnote in history' . Gove called it treason. The old one party state shimmered on the horizon. But it was all a cruel joke , a shabby trick.

Fwiw I think they'll eventually call the bluff of UTV wotsisface. If not now then after Labour take power. The Greens could do well. They are transfer friendly.