Come on over Dave

Published Thursday, 13 May 2010
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David Cameron is, apparently, a man who keeps his promises.

He said he would be in Northern Ireland within a week of becoming Prime Minister and he seems on course.

His visit early next week will probably be part of a programme which will take in Scotland and Wales as well.

A meeting with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness will be on the cards and the executive has been working at an agreed stategy to fight the promised cuts.

The new Prime Minister has stressed that Northern Ireland would not suffer more than other regions but pain is on the way.

Owen Patterson will meet the First and Deputy First ministers before the PM's visit but he has been consistent in arguing the entire United Kingdom is facing a dire situation.

But Stormont ministers can argue Northern Ireland is a unique situation.

Cuts in the public sector could well stunt any prospect of the public sector growing, as the government wants.

Meanwhile, I gather a number of senior Ulster Unionists are arguing Sir Reg Empey should stay on as leader.

They point at what they see as a lack of a viable alternative and say the UUP, in spite of major problems, still polled 100.000 votes in the Westminster election.

But some senior MLAs, in particular, say the time is right for change.

Names being mentioned for the job include Danny Kennedy, Tom Elliott, Michael McGimpsey and Basil McCrea.

Sir Reg will reveal his intentions at the party's executive meeting on Saturday.

As for the rumblings within the SDLP, it was still Margaret Ritchie around the executive table at the latest meeting.

Alex Attwood will apparently take over shortly.

As for the dispute over committee jobs, some are feeling sore.

Change, it seems, is painful.

Just ask David Cameron.


For more on David Cameron's visit: PM Cameron to visit NI

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1 Comments
erny in lisburn wrote (1,102 days ago):
Hard times on the way? A cut in the millions we give away to the EU would help.
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Ken Reid
Ken Reid

Ken Reid is Political Editor at UTV. His career as a journalist began at The News Letter in 1977, where he remained for seven years. This was followed by stints as the sports editor, and later editor, of the Sunday News, and reporting for the Cork Examiner.

Ken joined UTV in 1994. He says one of his most memorable moments was breaking the Ian Paisley retirement story in 2008.

He's a big fan of rugby (Ballymena to be precise), cricket and football (Everton FC) and loves music, especially blues.

His favourite motto is Everton FC's: "Nil satis nisi optimum"... Only the best is good enough.

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