Doing A Pontius Pilate Act?

[sandyRoe]

The MLAs at Stormont have washed their hands and walked away from the task of cutting the benefits for hard working families.
Isn't taking tough decisions sometimes the job of politicians?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34853112

[Old_Geezer]

I'd have thought that whoever's budget supplied the cash was most likely to be who implemented their decisions.

[mikey4444]

That lot can't even agree on what bisquits to have at meetings Sandy, let alone anything remotely important.

[sandyRoe]

It's true The Treasury holds the purse strings but the locals could have some say in how the pot's shared out.
They don't want to be tainted by association with these cuts.

[ichkeria]

I agree that it is disgraceful. However when are the other parties ever going to get themselves in a position to take power away from DUP/Sinn Fein?
They consistently fail at the ballot box

[sandyRoe]

The DUP cut the feet from under the Ulster Unionists by accusing them of being traitors in dealing with Sinn Fein then went on to do the same themselves.
Sinn Fein initially mobilised working class Catholic voters and with success attracted some of the middle class.
Sectarianism is the driving force in politics here. Both the major parties are past masters in whipping it up.

[ichkeria]

What do you reckon to the new SDLP leader Sandy?

[sandyRoe]

The last leader, and my MP, Aisdair McDonnell, was described by the American ambassador in a leak as being like bull in a China shop. He was a conservative with no time for anything like reform of the antiquated abortion legislation here or any change in gay rights.
Having said that he probably knows what his supporters want and gives it to them.
We can only hope that Eastwood will be a bit more forward looking.

[ichkeria]

Alisdair seemed to know how to woo the unionists of South Belfast.
His replacement is obscenely young: Seven years younger than Charles Kennedy was ....
With a name like "Eastwood" he may be worth a punt :-)

And Peter Robbo is on the way out. Plus ca change ....