Northern Irish Blogs.com

SDLP Youth will today (Thursday 31st July) hold a demonstration outside Belfast City Hall against the homophobic comments made by Iris Robinson MP MLA. It will take place at 1pm sharp.SDLP Youth Chair Peter Armstrong said: "It is clear that Iris Robinson believes it is acceptable for her to preach outrageous messages of hate and discrimination based on her interpretation of ancient biblical texts. However, the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland do not agree with her comments."We believe that Iris Robinson does not have any public support. She has shown the extent of her homophobia on television and radio interviews, at Stormont as an MLA and in committees that she sits on as an MP at Westminster. We believe it is intolerable that she can remain as the Chair of the Assembly's...

In the topsy-turvy paradox that is Northern Irish politics we have constitutional republicans (in the wider European sense) that are called 'nationalists' (the SDLP), nationalists pretending to be republicans (Sinn Fein) and, most strangely, 'unionists' (the DUP) who possess arguably the strongest sort of nationalism on the island- Ulster Nationalism.   This point is demonstrated most clearly in recent weeks by Iris Robinson's comments regarding homosexuality and her attack on secularism.  Iris's political development seems not to have embraced any Enlightenment thinking whatsoever and is stuck solidly before the epoch-making French Revolution of 1789- maybe stuck even as far back as 1690!  Her views and those of the DUP have no place whatsoever in modern Britain except...

Despite being an arch anti-Tory myself, it is difficult not to have some regard for David Davis' decision to apply for Tony Blair's position as Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds, and subsequently then submit himself as a candiate for the ensuing bye-election.Some say it is an act of ego; others an act of principle. I would suggest that it's probably a bit of both. Let's not forget that this is the man who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the Conservative leadership contest. Nonetheless, he has given up one of the most powerful positions in the shadow cabinet and put his well-paid job as an MP on the line over this.At a time when the British Labour Party has woodchipped just about every ideological plank upon which it rested, politicians (with the unfortunate...

I thought I'd heard it all, but Iris Robinson's suggestion that people who engage in the "abomination" of being part of the LGBT community could be 'turned' from their ways by a visit to a psychiatrist will really take some beating.Despite the fact that her husband is supposed to promote equality in his role as First Minister, Iris Robinson's comments are a slap in the face of those who actually believe that people have the right to be treated equally, not to mention the victims of hate attacks such as 27-year old Stephen Scott who two days previously was assaulted by a gang of youths, suffering head and leg injuries. What kind of message does this send out?The suggestion that living an 'alternative' lifestyle is an illness which needs fixed by a shrink would be hilarious if was coming...