Comments on: Government announces climbdown on abortion to avoid Queen’s Speech rebellion

By: Alma

Alma — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:58:20 +0000

looks like they are afraid of something! Why?

By: patrick newman

patrick newman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 09:46:23 +0000

I cant believe the DUP are delighted by this pro-life avoidance concession. Moving on I agree with Alasdair in looking for further opportunities to make progress and to undermine the confidence of the governing party. However I very much disagree with Umunna’s rebellion – he does not seem to understand that the only thing certain about Brexit is ambiguity!

By: Alasdair Macdonald

Alasdair Macdonald — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:55:46 +0000

This is a good example of how seeking to create broad-based cross-party alliances, including Tory MPs, can make important gains, when faced with a minority government, propped up by a smaller party which represents one section of one part of the UK.
(While there are several aspects of Ulster Unionist – DUP/UUP – polices which I find appalling, we must not assume the disrespectful position that these parties do not have defensible philosophical positions on a number of issues, some of which might harmonise with some ‘progressive’ attitudes, such as cross-border trade with the Irish Republic and hence the EU.. The DUP are seasoned and dogged negotiators. They, like SF, play a long game).