The General Election 2024/5 thread

[krtek a houby]

Someone has Diaspora fever I see

Here's a comment I just nicked from the Cedar Lounge site:

"I should have learned by now to not even look for an optimistic take, but the (very) broad left vote here – including SF/SD/GR/LP/PbP + one or two more – is going to be in the region of 40%. Not close enough and not really much different from 2020 and that’s frustrating – but unimaginable in my youth.

And the FFFG vote continues its long, long (and slow, slow) slide.

One day soon, lads….one day soon"

Ignore the rise of the right at your peril, I always say.

Do think it's a disgrace we can't vote, though.

 

[krtek a houby]

British media utterly disinterested

As always, sadly.

 

[PR1Berske]

As a long time political nerd it's always struck me how comfortable the BBC is with going to Bumfuck, Ohio to monitor the US election while being utterly disinterested in even looking for Dublin on a map. There are real consequences to not reporting news on our doorstep.

 

[Idris2002]

Seat projections:


On this basis an SF/FF/Mudguards lashup is viable (if we disregard M. Martin's campaign comments out SF).

 

[brogdale]

As always, sadly.

tbf to C4News, Paraic O'Brien has been doing some (heavily vox popped) reports from Dublin over the last week, but beyond that, yeah...not much at all.

 

[krtek a houby]

As a long time political nerd it's always struck me how comfortable the BBC is with going to Bumfuck, Ohio to monitor the US election while being utterly disinterested in even looking for Dublin on a map. There are real consequences to not reporting news on our doorstep.

It's very strange. Then again, was always surprised by the amount of people I met who would say "oh, I really must visit" but never do. That said, anytime am back there, I've noticed more British visitors - not just the drinking parties. And then theres the British migrants to West Cork - the kind who aren't berated because they happen to be newcomers - because they're "the right sort" of newcomers...

 

[krtek a houby]

tbf to C4News, Paraic O'Brien has been doing some (heavily vox popped) reports from Dublin over the last week, but beyond that, yeah...not much at all.

Sounds better than Japan telly where nearly every feature/documentary has the obligatory fiddley eye dee music bed going on...

 

[cupid_stunt]

British media utterly disinterested

It's ironic I should be reading your post, just as Sky News was reporting on that exit poll, they have also given coverage at various points since the election was first called.

Although I didn't noticed any coverage yesterday, but that was probably because it was polling day, and there was a massive story going on, what with the assisted dying bill.

I've also seen coverage on the BBC, ITV, C-4 , and at least on the Guardian, FT, Times, and Mirror websites.

 

[krtek a houby]

Felt that the Mary Lou pictures used in this piece were unflattering. Sometimes get the feeling that the graun isn't a fan of SF

Sinn Féin optimistic but breakthrough unlikely in Irish election

Mary Lou McDonald’s party has risen to second place in the polls but analysts say the chances of victory are slim

www.theguardian.com

 

[cupid_stunt]

I would add it's the second story on Sky News starting the top of the hour, straight after Ukraine, including the exit poll, explaining the voting system, then live to one of their Irish reporters at the Greystones count.

 

[The39thStep]

Ignore the rise of the right at your peril, I always say.

Do think it's a disgrace we can't vote, though.

Didn't know that.

 

[brogdale]

I would add it's the second story on Sky News starting the top of the hour, straight after Ukraine, including the exit poll, explaining the voting system, then live to one of their Irish reporters at the Greystones count.

Good to see some attempt at explaining the electoral system, but I sometimes think that a basic primer on the differences/distinction between FG & FF might help the British audience?

 

[flypanam]

Good to see some attempt at explaining the electoral system, but I sometimes think that a basic primer on the differences/distinction between FG & FF might help the British audience?

At this point in time when they willingly go into coalition it’s probably not needed.

 

[Idris2002]

Good to see some attempt at explaining the electoral system, but I sometimes think that a basic primer on the differences/distinction between FG & FF might help the British audience?

Noooooooooo

 

[cupid_stunt]

Good to see some attempt at explaining the electoral system, but I sometimes think that a basic primer on the differences/distinction between FG & FF might help the British audience?

Yes I agree, I lived in the Ireland for a number of years in the 80s, and I've still not got a Scooby-Doo!

 

[brogdale]

What have I said?

 

[brogdale]

Yes I agree, I lived in the Ireland for a number of years in the 80s, and I've still not got a Scooby-Doo!

Mind you, would an Irish citizen living in the UK be able o discern much difference between the "left" and right parties of capital?

 

[Idris2002]

In the old days. . . FF and FG were both centre-right parties, but FF were more centre than right, and FG were more right than centre.

Except when it came to social liberalism (divorce, contraception) when it was the other way around.

 

[Sue]

Do think it's a disgrace we can't vote, though.

I think it's reasonable that if you don't live in a country, you aren't able to vote there. Sure, have a period of two or three years (say) for those who're away temporarily but after that, no. (I'd friends who voted in the Brexit referendum despite being away for 10+ years which feels kind of wrong. I couldn't vote in Indyref because despite being Scottish I don't live there and I think that's fair enough.)

 

[Idris2002]

FF and FG also had distinct positions on the national question, and attitudes to Britain (FG's predecessor, Cumann na Gael, had absorbed the rump of the southern Unionist party in the 1920s).

It took FF politicians to be involved in the Arms crisis for example. The old knee jerk semi sympathy for northern republicanism that at least some parts of FF had seems to have fully disappeared, which is significant.

 

[krtek a houby]

I think it's reasonable that if you don't live in a country, you aren't able to vote there. Sure, have a period of two or three years (say) for those who're away temporarily but after that, no. (I'd friends who voted in the Brexit referendum despite being away for 10+ years which feels kind of wrong. I couldn't vote in Indyref because despite being Scottish I don't live there and I think that's fair enough.)

Emigration and the diaspora is a huge part of Irish identity. The fact that many many Irish people were driven away from the country over generations, plays a strong part in the desire to engage in home politics.

It's an ongoing issue, for certain.

 

[Idris2002]

What have I said?

You have awoken a sleeping giant.

 

[brogdale]

You have awoken a sleeping giant.

Even though I try to follow politics beyond the UK, just sometimes I need a refresher about the FG/FF story; some months ago I came across this primer on Reddit:

 

[Sue]

Emigration and the diaspora is a huge part of Irish identity. The fact that many many Irish people were driven away from the country over generations, plays a strong part in the desire to engage in home politics.

But it would be ridiculous if there were more people outside Ireland voting in Irish elections than people actually living there. (Obviously dependent on where lines were drawn but that isn't that ridiculous given the numbers.)

And just because you're from a country originally, doesn't mean you should necessarily get a say in how it's run.

 

[Idris2002]

Good to see some attempt at explaining the electoral system, but I sometimes think that a basic primer on the differences/distinction between FG & FF might help the British audience?

Also they represented different social categories and classes: FG were the party of (amongst others) strong commercial farmers, the "respectable" urban middle class professionals, etc. FF were the party of small farmers, urban workers and what Maoists called "the national bourgeoisie", the latter being helped by the party's original import substitution industrialisation policy (abandoned in the late 50s). These differences meant policy differences.

 

[krtek a houby]

See also "Blueshirts"

 

[krtek a houby]

But it would be ridiculous if there were more people outside Ireland voting in Irish elections than people actually living there. (Obviously dependent on where lines were drawn but that isn't that ridiculous given the numbers.)

And just because you're from a country originally, doesn't mean you should necessarily get a say in how it's run.

Are you British?

 

[Idris2002]

But it would be ridiculous if there were more people outside Ireland voting in Irish elections than people actually living there. (Obviously dependent on where lines were drawn but that isn't that ridiculous given the numbers.)

And just because you're from a country originally, doesn't mean you should necessarily get a say in how it's run.

But - just because you live outside your country of citizenship, does that mean you surrender your citizenship and your rights as a citizen?

 

[Sue]

Are you British?

Yes. Why?

 

[Idris2002]

See also "Blueshirts"

Whose leadership were bounced out of the party when FG were formed.