13th Mar 2008
Super councils likely to be popular whilst Mallon speaks out
Today’s announcement by the Executive that 11 super councils are to be created in 2013 is unlikely to cause public uproar although some considered voices will fear a balkanising effect with the creation of four ‘nationalist’ and six ‘unionist’ councils leaving only Belfast as a politically shared city. Real issues exist for governance at a local level as there will reside in each council area new minorities and majorities who may be unaware how to manage, or be clearly hostile to their new positions. The role and protection of minority ethnic groups (new and existing) will be a particular issue for concern.
Problems could be alleviated however, if the Assembly makes power sharing at local government level a requirement. On a more positive note, new community planning powers and within them’ the power of welbeing’ will leave room for real innovation in the exercise of power.
Seamus Mallon has spoken publicly today about the possibility of a Fianna Fail - SDLP merger and has reflected what I think is the position of very many within the SDLP. The party’s former deputy leader said Fianna Fail excluded the SDLP from key negotiations last year and that he for one was not minded to ‘get into bed’ with people who excluded his party.
Over the past week there has been some considerable debate within the SDLP about future realignments. What has been notable about the tone of this convesation are the strongly held views by the majority if SDLP members that the party and it’s social democratic principles are not ‘for sale’. Many would be happy to sit down with any of the major parties in the south and rationally discuss the future of politics on this island and that of course includes Fianna Fail. But as Seamus suggests, the SDLP is a proud party with a tremendous history and conversations must to be based on trust and mutual respect.
Good to see Seamus Mallon standing up for the SDLP, countering the general impression that that party just cant wait to be subsumed into FF. Has it not occurred to anyone in the pro-FF wing of the SDLP that now that FF have routed SF in the south and that they will be confined to a small rabid nationalist/ loony left fringe for the forseeable future that FF dont now need the bother of getting involved north of the border. If you’re kicking SF ass where it counts, in the south, why hand them the opportunity of putting one over on you in the north? Does Biffo need this bother? Does he F**k!
It’s an interesting development. My recollection of Seamas’ view at the time is that he was critical of the SDLP leadership for allowing itself to be publicly sidelined in the way it was.
It’s also interesting in that he was apparently happy enough to develop a relationship with FF when he was appointed by the Leader of that party, Charles J Haughey to the Seanad.
Does his intervention mean that he might now take a role in the process you’re talking about? That would be welcome.