Monday 26 October 2009

Dear Mr Parsley …

"Please may we have our £43,353 back?

Yours sincerely,

Alliance Party"

That is how much the members and supporters of the Alliance Party paid to promote the Parsley brand in the recent European elections – just before Parsley decided that, on second thoughts, he really was a Tory after all.

It happens that £43,353 is almost half of the Alliance party's annual income from Assembly allowances, at least as far as its published accounts are concerned. Perhaps the party also raises some money from membership fees, but that is unlikely to add up to very much. The £94,472 that Alliance gets from the Assembly is more than spent on salaries and other items, leaving a deficit.

So Parsley presumably bled the party close to death in his doomed attempt to get elected to the European Parliament. And then deserted to the Tories!

Next year the Alliance Party, like all others in Northern Ireland, will have to contest elections. That costs money. Lots of money. Part of the expense is incurred in creating brand awareness of the party, and of the candidate. In 2009 the Alliance Party spent £43,353 creating public awareness for an unknown first-time councillor from North Down – a man who had previously received a total of 343 votes in his whole political career!

That man will probably stand in 2010 as the Tory candidate in North Down, with his public profile created and financed by the Alliance Party.

Of course defections and betrayals are not new in politics, and there is no point in crying foul – politics is a game for big boys. But there must be a lot of Alliance members and supporters who gave generously this year to try to promote their party and its candidate. Let's hope they remember just how that candidate treated them and their money when they enter the polling booth next year.

23 comments:

hoboroad said...

Did David Cameron visit South Africa during the 1980's?

Anonymous said...

Surely Labour should stand in NI? Its about time.

Labour member in Hertfordshire

Watcher said...

It will happen my friend, it will happen...

Anonymous said...

It seems anomalous that my party is not standing in NI and I am hopeful that will change starting with local elections.

Anonymous said...

What are all the parties in N.I.? And where do they stand on the issue of unionism / nationalism?

Anonymous said...

Labour will be standing in NI soon.

SocialistIreland said...

SDLP - rode on The Provo's back
Sinn Fein - touts and state assets

Anonymous said...

Let's have fewer parish pump stories and more on the inexorable doom of the protestant state!

Here's a story

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legatum_Prosperity_Index

Recession notwithstanding, Ireland moves ahead of the UK in yet another prosperity index.

hoboroad said...

Workers Party Bank Robbers and counterfeit US Dollars

bangordub said...

The Comments here are getting as weird as Andy's.
Hoboroad excepted!
Horseman, I was at Yeat's grave this week.
It all makes perfect sense
A Chara

bangordub said...

Ps:
I'm thinking of starting my own blog.
"A Dubliner up north" or something similar. Good or bad idea?
I'd be delighted if Andy gave me as much attention as he does to you!!!

hoboroad said...

bangordub,

You should start your own blog would it be just politics?
Or will you have other topics? As long as you leave the comments open I am sure everybody on here will pay you a visit! Here's a bit of advice though if you are fat and ugly like Andy don't put up any photographs of yourself I think Andy has learnt his lesson on that one.

Anonymous said...

There is, for example, the Gender Gap Index report for 2009 which puts Ireland in 8th place, well ahead of the UK in 15th

http://www.weforum.org/en/Communities/Women%20Leaders%20and%20Gender%20Parity/GenderGapNetwork/index.htm

bangordub said...

Haha,
Thanks Hoboroad,
It most certainly wouldnt be confined to politics.
I hope I'm not as ugly as Andy, at least in my attitudes.
I Know that Horseman is correct in his general thesis, I just enjoy the general cut and thrust.
"Rage rage against the dying of the light" etc
I really enjoyed Andy getting frustrated trying to figure me out!!!

hoboroad said...

bangordub


Good luck with your new blog. Do tell us when it is up and running. Have a look at other blogs before you start. Horseman runs a great blog be careful you don't try to much to soon.

bangordub said...

Thanks Hoboroad,
It'll be more observational than analytical.

bangordub said...

By the way,
Don't ask how I got this (And I'm not gonna reference it although I have an impeccable source) but the word in North Down is that the local unionist party are solidly with Sylvia. Parsley has a major problem here.
Interesting times ahead!

Horseman said...

bangordub,

It'd be great if you started a blog. A voice of a Dubliner living in the north would be excellent - it's been missing for too long. There are lots of Dubliners in the north but usually their heads are kept too low.

Go for it!

Watcher said...

FAO bangordub -

Ye, I'm looking forward to your effort - "It's Andy, It's Andy, It's Andy" LOLOLOL.

It wouldn't surprise me if you're "Andy" or being paid by him to raise his profile. Let's face it, you wouldn't be the first mick to perform services for a brit and you'll not be the last...

Watcher said...

bangordub said:

"By the way,
Don't ask how I got this (And I'm not gonna reference it although I have an impeccable source) but the word in North Down is that the local unionist party are solidly with Sylvia. Parsley has a major problem here.
Interesting times ahead!"

So you've come clean at last bangordub! Perhaps you can explain why a 'proud' Irishman felt the need to move to The UK - and Ulster at that. Side splitting stuff...

By the way, I know a few people in Bangor, I must ask them to look out for The Dublin RC with The Presbyterian wife who likes to gather information on Unionists...

Anonymous said...

More thinly veiled threats from Andy!

Bangordub, ignore them and give us the juicy news from ND.

MPG .....

bangordub said...

MPG
Unlike Andy, I actually know and socialise with ulster unionists.
I have never been the subject of implied threats from them.
I'll let you know as soon as I hear more.
Horseman & Hoboroad,
Thanks for the encouragement!
I think I'll go for it and call it "Beannchor a Dubliners Diary"
Pity Carson isn't still around to blog, he'd be a worthy counterpoint.
Cheers

Watcher said...

Look forward to taking the piss out of you bangordub (or is it Andy?)