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And Corbyn . Livingstone etc being members of the London branch of the provisional IRA fan club.
Forgetting the SDLP were meant to be our fraternal party...But that was a long , long time ago
Peter_Carter-
There it is. Acknowledging there was a problem in Northern Ireland equals support for the IRA. Exactly the reason Britain hasn't been able to engage with Northern Ireland. It's legitimate to say stupid, prejudiced things about the people who lived there in a way it wasn't about people in other areas of conflict. The IRA happened for a reason. Some of that reason had to do with Westminster policies. Recognising that doesn't amount to being a fan of their work.
It doesn't matter how long ago it was, it's a shameful position.
Fintan
I really don't see it.
I don't think Labour could progress in Northern Ireland without first apologising to the population for not giving a shit.
And not giving a shit at a time when NI was so obviously the least equitable place in the UK. I know you're not supposed to bring up history and I think talking in terms of Northern Ireland's problems as historical is demeaning and misleading BUT while the civil rights movement was entirely non-violent, centre-left and leftist, somewhat working class movement which was attracting some cross-community support, Labour refused to engage. (There's that Barbara Castle quote where she tells this young Labour MP -Paul Rose- there are perfectly good problems in Palestine and South Africa without getting his hands dirty with Ulster.)
And then the failure to see that the strike against power sharing did have elements of the left in it, that they were people you could talk to rather than vilify or dismiss.
And then Roy Mason.
The Greens, sure; they're a clean slate. But I don't think Labour could show up and say 'Hi guys' and expect things to go well.