As usual, we have recorded Saturday's Inside Politics ahead of time. This weekend's guest is the constant thorn in Ian Paisley's side, MEP Jim Allister. If you want to hear his thoughts on the likelihood of the formation of a "dissident" unionist political movement and his complaints about the burgeoning number of special advisers at Stormont you can catch the programme on BBC Radio Ulster at 12.45.
As my colleague Martina Purdy is reporting on radio, TV and elsewhere on this website the "Folks on the Hill" are due back soon. They are on Radio Ulster from September 8th and BBC NI TV from November 16th. For more details see Martina's article, but for now here's the script of a skit which she broadcast in part on Good Morning Ulster.
JEFFREY AND EDWIN
Ed: Hello, Jeffrey.
JD: Hello, Edwin. How’s the job going?
Ed: Oh, I like it very much, but I seem to be taking a lot of flak over my style and my performance in interviews. I’m just not that comfortable doing that stuff.
JD: Really? I’d never have guessed. Well, it’s vitally important you get that part of the job right, Edwin. Otherwise the pressure will just grow and grow. People will say you’re not up to the job. You’ll feel more and more pressure until you’ll eventually start to hate being a minister and your position will become untenable! Sorry……that’s just a worst case scenario, you understand.
Ed: Oh, dear, what should I do?
JD: Well, let’s sort out your style and delivery. Learn from a seasoned campaigner. Call Michael McGimpsey. He’ll give you a few good pointers.
Ed: Are you sure?
Later……
MM: So, you say Jeffrey recommended me.
Ed: Yes. Said you could help me improve my public style and delivery.
MM: He must be up to something. Anyway, yes, I have noticed that you are rather deadpan and staid. You need to use a bit more intonation whenever you’re speaking. Otherwise you’ll just come across as drab and uninteresting.
Ed: Were you using intonation then?
MM: Oh, yes. Some of us do it naturally. You may need to work on it. Also don’t be afraid to use your facial muscles. Expressiveness is key.
Ed: Were you using it then?
MM: Oh, yes. Ok, now go away and practise.
Ed: Right, eh, thanks.
MM: Goodbye.
I was listening to the Nolan show this morning on which the young unionist, Stephen Warke, took the IRFU to task for its decision not to play "God Save The Queen" before tonight's international rugby match against Italy at Ravenhill. The IRFU says the "Soldier Song" and "Ireland's Call" will be played when the team is in the Republic, but only "Ireland's Call" outside the jurisdiction. The decision has caused quite a rumpus on the Ulster Rugby Fans Forum.
I'm not sure what the solution is, but it struck me as ironic that in the same week that we have a political controversy over no "God Save the Queen" at Ravenhill, we heard it twice at Windsor Park, as the same melody is used for Liechtenstein's "Oben am jungen Rhein" (something my colleague Kevin Connolly explained expertly on yesterday's Talkback.)
So perhaps when the Rugby World Cup is done and dusted and the IRFU is seeking to arrange further friendlies for Ravenhill they should fix a match with a Liechtenstein XV, thus ensuring that the tunes of both "Ireland's Call" and "God Save The Queen" will be played. There is such a team, whose link I provide below. It might be a sporting mismatch, but it's a perfect anthemic compromise.
Oh and there's no truth to the rumour that the team's known as the "Duchy Originals"
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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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