Ian Paisley Jr. doesn't have a monopoly on unionist gay controversies. Over on the Young Unionist blog site, the YUs appear to be tearing themselves apart over the recent Belfast Gay Pride event. Differences over comments about the event have led to the resignation of the blog editor Michael Shilliday. At a time when the old unionist party is trying to reinvigorate itself it looks like the young unionists can't kick the habit of internal division.
Reacting to reports that the Irish Labour leader, Pat Rabbitte, is resigning I clicked on the RTE website for the latest. Their news story links to a profile of Mr Rabbitte dating back to the last election. Under the heading "Main Priorities" there are three headings - Getting There - his policy on transport, and Getting A Roof - his policy on housing. But it was the third heading "Getting Laid" which caught my attention. It purports to commit the Dublin South West TD to slashing VAT on condoms.
During the drama surrounding the downfall of Albert Reynolds, the then Guardian Correspondent David Sharrock noted that the future Labour leader had made a speech to the Dail which was "the first time in history that a Rabbitte had pulled a red herring out of a top hat". But since I can't believe reducing tax on prophylactics was ever high on his list of priorities, I am working on the presumption that the RTE profile has been targetted by a hacker.
UPDATE: That serves me right - I didn't realise that this was old news, and that Pat Rabbitte had made this his number three priority. Thanks very much to commenters for putting me right. It's fair to say that I've pulled an old red herring out of my hat.
I am indebted to commenter I.N. Cider for letting me know about an intruder at Parliament Buildings earlier this week. I've posted the comment, but I think it's worth repeating in full...
"What a pity you where not around the Big House on Tuesday and Wednesday Mark.
Just when the Folks on the Hill thought it was safe to return to the building after summer recess all hell broke loose when the shout went out to all within the building that there was a possible MOLE therein!!
After a frantic search by the security staff it became clear that all sides could breath easy again as the culprit turned out to be a young Ferret which had wondered up to the West door of the building and tried to gain entry without first producing a pass. Security staff trapped the said rodent and swiftly made a makeshift home for same.
After feeding and watering the animal and looking after it for 24 hours a new owner and home was found for the little mite who looked rather sad to be leaving his new found friends up on the hill.
And who says that theres no compassion for the little creatures of this country?"
I rang an Assembly source who confirmed I.N. Cider's account and told me the security staff had popped the ferret into a makeshift cage before the animal was taken away by the USPCA.
Perhaps the ferret should have been kept at Stormont to keep our politicians on their toes. Given the choice, whose trousers would you drop him down?
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I'm Mark Devenport, BBC NI's political editor, and I'll be blogging here on all things politics. For the latest updates across BBC blogs,
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