Archives for August 10, 2007

I'm off again for a week and once again Martina will be taking the blogging strain. Before going I should say I've been interested by your continuing comments on our Assembly footballers. Earlier today the SDLP's Thomas Burns, a former player for Crumlin United, put out a news release on the match praising the manager Pat Jennings and boasting about his prowess from the six yard spot. "I was very happy with my performance in both games. I felt I took my penalty very well. I'm no David Healy, but I gave the keeper no chance." Yes, he said so himself.

My Inside Politics guest at 12.45 tomorrow on Radio Ulster is the Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew who reveals how she heard about the foot and mouth outbreak in England whilst sitting in a cinema in Dungannon watching a movie with her children. And she doesn't appear to see eye to eye with her Executive colleague Margaret Ritchie over the 60 day "guns or cash" deadline to the UDA, something which Ms Ritchie herself trailed in a previous Inside Politics appearance.

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I'm indebted to Derry man Noel Adams who took the East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell to task over his Commons register of interests for pointing out an interesting entry by the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.

Mr Salmond declares that he is both Scottish First Minister and an MSP. The SNP leader explains "As I am also a Member of the House of Commons I receive one third of the MSP salary. Arrangements are currently ongoing for this to be paid into a charitable trust."

Should this set a precedent for our double jobbing MLA/MPs? If not, why not?

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