No Blackpool Rock for the DUP
Last year Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson hosted a well attended fringe meeting at the Tory conference in Bournemouth. But this year the DUP is notable by its absence. Has Westminster's fourth largest party got something against Blackpool? Is this a fit of pique given the Tory recruitment of Lord Trimble?
Ian Paisley has to attend the funeral of a church elder. Jeffrey Donaldson has an important meeting of his Stormont committee, which is taking evidence from the Lord Chief Justice. Others have ministerial commitments.
However, given the speculation about a November election, it's a surprise that no MLA or MP was able to make the trip. So far I haven't found anyone willing to stand up a rumour going around Tory circles that some DUPers applied but had a problem with their photo accreditation.
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I don't know about the rest of them, but I think your comment about Dr Paisley supposedly going to a funeral rather snide. Read the News Letter today, and you will see an elder from his church in Aughnaclot is being buried tomorrow.
Mark replies - I did not intend to question the fact that he is attending a funeral. I was aware of the church elder's death. I will remove the word "apparently" in case any other reader interprets it in this way.
Mark
NATIONAL POETRY DAY: A POETIC TRIBUTE TO PAISLEY
Now that the Tories have recruited Loser Trimble, I can confidently predict that they will be routed at the next General election. By contrast, Paisley has a tremendous track record of election victories and would have enhanced proceedings if he had been invited to the Blackpool Conference. On National Poetry Day I thought it appropriate to mark the Tories’ stupidity and show support for Dr Paisley by composing a few rhyming couplets:
SILENCE AT THE BACK AND PAY ATTENTION, JUNIOR!
TRIBUTE TO PAISLEY
Recruiting Trimble, Big Tory Blunder
The man who tore the UUP asunder
Trimble will bring long lament
Tories will long repent
Ignoring Paisley and his Thunder
The Tories made a second Blunder
By not providing Blackpool Rock
For our very own Northern Crock
Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate – Eat your heart out!
Susie.
Carryduff