Not saying it with an X
Before I begin, this is not Mark Devenport, but his colleague Martina Purdy. Mark - who is on leave until Monday - asked me to update the blog but it has taken a good 24 hours to "hack" in.
By now the Dromore byelection has been carefully dissected, no doubt. The Ulster Unionists whose candidate won the seat called it a black day for the DUP. The Traditional Unionist Voice MEP Jim Allister described a massacre on St Valentine's day. But today the DUP leader Ian Paisley said the press coverage had been ridiculous and there was no massacre or bloody nose, pointing out that his party topped the poll.
The DUP, had the voters been asked for a St Valentine's Day X, indeed would have won in a Westminister-style first past the post vote. But alas, voters were asked for a 1,2,3 (etc) as it was a proportional representation election.
Either way, the DUP should be worried, say some, as the TUV has eaten into their vote. The question is can the DUP woo back hearts and minds before the next poll?
No doubt some of the DUP MPs who are in Lisbon on a Westminster factfinding mission will take some time to discuss the matter. (Three DUP MPs, I'm told, are not there, as they have other commitments. They are William McCrea, Iris Robinson and Ian Paisley Sr.)
P.S. for the record, the first count results were as follows:
DUP 1069
UUP 912
TUV 739
Alliance 357
SDLP 290
SF 350
Green 59
I'm 
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The reporting of the result in Dromore has been of a very poor standard.Everyone knows that a local by election can throw up some strange results, that said I do think the TUV vote sent out a message it shows that that party could have the strength in some areas to split the DUP vote (because thats all they are interested in doing) enough to cost the Unionist seats. Getting back to Dromore some points to consider on the election. 1 It was a local council by election which the DUP never should have forced.
2 The last council election took place on the same day as the Westminster election i think.So the turnout would be very different.
3 Local area issues would be involved.
4 Local people would be involved and votes in council elections can be cast for a person and not a party.
These would be some of the reasons that I wouldnt read too much into the result and really wouldnt call it a massacre.
Actually the TUV described it as an unhappy ST V's day for the chuckle brothers. Massacre was Danny Kennedy.
I think this local by election again just demonstrated how little support Jim Bowen (Allister) really has. In total 3776 voted. Only 739 give TUV first preference votes. 1981 voted for the pro devolution parties on the unionist side. This is nearly a 3 to 1 vote against Bowen. If I lived in that area or any area where TUV are looking my vote what are they doing to get votes. What is their mandate? As far as I can see on Jim Allister website there is no mandate. He is just trying to stop the Political Institutions from doing their work and delivering real progress for the majority of people who want it. If Jim Allister wants to bring down the Executive why doesn’t he go and support the dissident republicans. This guy is so petty he refers to Sinn Fein as IRA/Sinn Fein on his website. This is quite childish for someone who is a solicitor. Jim GROW UP. YOU DONT REPRESENT ANYONE NORMAL ONLY PETTY MINDED PEOPLE
Mark
DROMORE NOT DUPED BY DUP(licity)
Hearty congratulations to the Voters of Dromore for giving the DUP a good kickin’ in the Council By-election. They have not been deceived by the DUP’s duplicity and are clearly bothered that almost all of the Party’s pre-conditions for Devolution have been discarded so that its MLAs could get their snouts in the Assembly trough.
Let’s not forget Jim Allister’s part in bloodying the DUP’s nose. He has made the TUV a credible alternative to the Lundy Party. I suspect Allister will now initiate an energetic recruitment drive on the back of the Dromore showing. While not a supporter, may I dare to suggest an Anthem for the TUV: [Don’t forget to turn up the volume!]
Jim, Baby, GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Susie
Carryduff
15 March, 2008
Ian Paisley used to stand similar abuse hurled at him when he led a very small anti-everything rump. Now that he has the biggest unionist party something he never ceases to publish he and his followers pour bile on Allister one of his former esteemed officers. The persecuted has become the persecutor of traditional unionists and the friend of Sinn Fein/IRA.
Mark
DROMORE NOT DUPED BY DUP(licity)
Hearty congratulations to the Voters of Dromore for giving the DUP a good kickin’ in the Council By-election. They have not been deceived by the DUP’s duplicity and are clearly bothered that almost all of the Party’s pre-conditions for Devolution have been discarded so that its MLAs could get their snouts in the Assembly trough.
Let’s not forget Jim Allister’s part in bloodying the DUP’s nose. He has made the TUV a credible alternative to the Lundy Party. I suspect Allister will now initiate an energetic recruitment drive on the back of the Dromore showing. While not a supporter, may I dare to suggest an Anthem for the TUV: [Don’t forget to turn up the volume!]
Jim, Baby, GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
Susie
Carryduff
15 February, 2008
David wrote that the DUP are the friends of Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein have grown into the powerfull party they are thanks to the short sighted unionists down through the years i include in that the UUP and DUP and if we dont take away their second class citizen cry and their discrimination cry then we give them the publicity they cry out for. The TUV have clear but unrealistic views about Sinn Fein we cant just wish them away. They are almost the largest party in Ulster.TUV sounds very anti Sinn Fein but are playing right into Sinn Feins hands. TUV could turn Sinn Fein into the largest Party in Ulster very easy is that not being the friend of Sinn Fein David? I believe in the ballot box so every one has the right to put themselves or party forward but Unionists cant get it wrong in the near future. There are members in TUV that are anti DUP and would do anything and go to any length to dammage the DUP the question I would ask is, The focus in the Dromore election result for the TUV was the defeat of the DUP the fact that the seat went to the UUP which many members of TUV would class a weaker Unionist party didnt matter so is the TUV an anti DUP party or a anti Sinn Fein?