Peter Hain is one of the easiest people to blog about- he loves media attention so there's always something about him in the press, and considering that he has so many different jobs, he's always seen juggling as many issues as he can fit into one day(alongside cooking on his first class aga, of course!)
So today, Hain returns to the politics of the North of Ireland. After his practise run of vetoing Welsh issues at the Assembly, he gets stuck in today by threatening to abolish Stormont if the executive fails to get up and running by the 26th of March. Having studied the politics of the North of Ireland in detail while at University, and having roots in the North, I always find it grating when an MP/ Secretary of State tries to exert control in such an outright and authoritative manner.
Hain shows little thought for the dealings between political parties in the North, or faith in their ability to solve issues for themselves. While outside involvement from Senator Mitchell and John de Chastelain alike proved beneficial during the Good Friday Agreement, British involvement has historically caused much more controversy. We need only use Margaret Thatcher as case in point due to her bullish stance on hunger strikers in the 80's. The fact remains that British politicians are inherently involved in all that is happening in the North, and therefore they cannot take a neutral viewpoint.
Today's reaction by Hain therefore will surely not be welcomed by the main political parties, of whatever colour, in the run up to the election this Wednesday. To use such a threatening tone when the election has not even taken place will only portray a picture of Hain and Westminster alike of seeking to push their own agenda on the people of the North. This is very dangerous ground to be treading. Hain should know better than to be as insensitive to the situation. Let the politicians of the North make their own decisions, for their own people, for a change.
So today, Hain returns to the politics of the North of Ireland. After his practise run of vetoing Welsh issues at the Assembly, he gets stuck in today by threatening to abolish Stormont if the executive fails to get up and running by the 26th of March. Having studied the politics of the North of Ireland in detail while at University, and having roots in the North, I always find it grating when an MP/ Secretary of State tries to exert control in such an outright and authoritative manner.
Hain shows little thought for the dealings between political parties in the North, or faith in their ability to solve issues for themselves. While outside involvement from Senator Mitchell and John de Chastelain alike proved beneficial during the Good Friday Agreement, British involvement has historically caused much more controversy. We need only use Margaret Thatcher as case in point due to her bullish stance on hunger strikers in the 80's. The fact remains that British politicians are inherently involved in all that is happening in the North, and therefore they cannot take a neutral viewpoint.
Today's reaction by Hain therefore will surely not be welcomed by the main political parties, of whatever colour, in the run up to the election this Wednesday. To use such a threatening tone when the election has not even taken place will only portray a picture of Hain and Westminster alike of seeking to push their own agenda on the people of the North. This is very dangerous ground to be treading. Hain should know better than to be as insensitive to the situation. Let the politicians of the North make their own decisions, for their own people, for a change.
1 comment:
Hain's arrgance indeed knows few bounds. One of his key decisions as pro-consul of the North of Ireland is of the imposition of water rates upon domestic conumers, which is blatantly of in preparation for that industry's privatisation. This policy has been been decided upon without the slightest hint of democratic participation or consultation and is to be imposed in the face of huge popular opposition.
This could,however, blow up in face of governor Hain, as did the Tories' imposition of the poll tax in scotland a year before England a few tyers ago. A major campaign of non-payment is planned, involving a wide range of parties, community groups and trade unions. Such a campaign, should it acheive take-off, could have huge implications for politics in the North as it would challenge the sectarian head-count institutionalised by the Good Friday Agreement. Neither Sinn Fein nor the Unionists back any non-payment campaign, despite their verbal opposition to water charges. They could lose control of "their" respective "tribes" on this basis and open a new era beyond the communal posturing masking neo-liberal socio-economic consensus which has passed for political debate in the north for a number of years now.
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