In anyone’s book, the turnout for the Ulster Farmers Union protest meeting out at the Maze the other night was pretty impressive. And it was the only event of its kind in living memory (well, almost) that managed to attract representatives from every political party….from Michelle O’Neill through the political spectrum to Jim Allister. They all made the trip to Lisburn.
But will the bumper turnout and the cobbled together political unity make any difference. It’s pretty unlikely, isn’t it?
While our farmers were revolting, and the UK’s farmers were driving their Massey Fergusons into central London, Sir Keir Starmer was swanning around Rio De Janeiro with the rest of the world’s leaders. He seems to like this world stage stuff, does Keir. Has he forgotten that his father was a humble toolmaker?
On the face of it, the farmers seem to have a case. But a fleet of tractors and couple of factors won’t help their cause. First up, they’re often regarded by the public at large – the good old working people that Starmer and Rachel Reeves bang on about – as being on a bit of a pig’s back financially. At least compared to the workers. Secondly, they haven’t been averse a spot of whingeing through the years. Now that they’ve really got something to whinge about, the ‘cry wolf’ effect might be kicking in.
As for the presence in London of multi-millionaire Jeremy Clarkson, who once claimed that he took up farming with the tax benefits in mind, was it beneficial or harmful?
On the local front, meanwhile, there’s been a volley of criticism directed at our very own Agriculture Minister, Andrew Muir. Dapper bow-tied Andrew, it seems, is proving a little too green (in the sustainable sense) for a lot of our muddy-booted rural types.
But none of that really matters. Whilst we wish the farmers well in their anti-tax crusade, it doesn’t look as though Starmer and Reeves are even listening, let alone thinking of backing down.
That’s what a big majority can do for a man…or a woman.
Farewell Joe….But What’s Next?
Joe Kennedy was back in our midst last week for a series of engagements around Northern Ireland, and it might well be the last time we see him in his role as the US Government’s Economic Envoy. He’s contributed a lot with his easy way, his knowledge of Ireland and his diplomacy, and he’s been a dynamic supporter of business here. So he’ll be missed. But what happens next?
Since his victory at the polls, Donald Trump has been making plenty of noise (not like him, is it?) and coming up with some ‘interesting’ – in inverted commas – even downright alarming potential picks for key posts in his administration.
A health chief in Robert F. Kennedy who is a notorious anti-vaxxer, a defence supremo who’s best known as a Fox News anchorman, and a controversial potential Attorney General in Matt Gaetz. Then there’s his reported pick to be in charge of commerce, Howard Lutnick. On the face of it, Lutnick is a solid choice given his business background. He’s CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald.
Lutnick’s appointment has already caused a frisson of concern in Dublin, or it would have done if they weren’t in election mode. Just a few weeks ago, he lashed out at Ireland’s trade with the US. On Elon Musk’s X, he wrote:-
“It’s nonsense that Ireland of all places runs a trade surplus at our expense. We don’t make anything here any more – even great American cars are made in Mexico. When we end this nonsense, America will be a truly great country again. You’ll be shocked.”
Except we won’t be, Howard. Nothing about the Trump bandwagon shocks any more.
Buckle up. It’s going to be a heck of a ride once Trump and his team takes the reins.
Westminster Requests Your Presence, Elon
Sometimes you’ve just got to admire the arrogance of the Westminster establishment. They’ve set up a committee to look into the lead-up to the riots and disorder that engulfed Britain in the wake of the Southport stabbings during the summer.
And, perhaps not surprisingly, they’re looking at the role of social media. But here’s the thing. They say that they’re going to be ‘summoning’ one Elon Musk to come to London and defend the role of his X (formerly Twitter) platform.
Do they honestly think that Musk is going to leave the gold furnishing of Mar-a-Lago or Big Mac Meals on Trump’s jet to nip over to good old England in British Airways Business Class to be kicked around by a bunch of politicians from British places that he’s never heard of….let alone visited?
Don’t think so, lads. He might just send his regrets. Or something along those lines.
I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here
The Belfast Telegraph seems to have tired – at long last – of reporting every word, comment, gasp or squeaky fart that Eamonn Holmes emits on GB News every morning.
This week, it celebrated the return of I’m A Celebrity to our screens by running a straw poll on which local politicians we’d all like to see having to face the trials and tribulations of the Australian jungle. The top choice, perhaps not entirely surprisingly, was poor old Naomi Long. Can’t imagine why.
But we’re not so sure. While Naomi would undoubtedly be good value, there are others that we’d tend towards. Gordon Lyons, for example. He’s in the news this week for flying business class from Dublin (really, Gordon?) to Washington and staying in some nice American hotels for a trip that seemed a tad – how to put this – superfluous. Could he swap fine linen and champagne at 33,000 feet for kangaroo penis and assorted insects?
Or what about Jim Allister. He’d need to avoid the Australian summer sun, given the red shade of his existing visage, but wouldn’t it be fun seeing him sparring with Barry McGuigan, toe tapping with Tulisa (who is apparently demisexual….look it up) and, like the rest of us, trying to understand what Colleen Rooney is saying?
With Jim’s natural charisma and easy sense of humour, he’d be a natural.
Talking The Talk
For those of you who might have missed it, the latest venture from the team here at Business Eye is our new Business Eye Live podcast. We’ve already produced Episodes 1 and 2 alongside our sponsors BDO Northern Ireland and we’re moving on next week to Episode 3.
Take a listen via the Business Eye website – https://www.businesseye.co.uk/podcast/businesseye-live/
While we can bring something to the podcast party, we’re indebted to the technical and production brain behind the project. Michael Wilson, known to some of you as the former Managing Director of UTV, is a former broadcast journalist and Sky News editor who’s one of the best around when it comes to podcast production.
And he’s also pretty good at keeping those of us more used to print journalism on the straight and narrow.
If you need any help with podcasts or podcasting, Michael is the man – https://beechhillconsultancy.com/
A Giant Of Journalism
Speaking of journalism, one of the true giants of the local game passed away this week.
Ken Reid, best known as the former Political Editor at UTV, was a trusted source of political news for everyone in Northern Ireland, but he was a whole lot more than that. He was an old school journalist, he was a family man, and he was a true gentleman.
Back in the dim and distant past, when Big Ken was Sports Editor at the long defunct Sunday News (sister paper to the News Letter), we talked to him every week about local rugby and he used to send us off on Saturday afternoons to Bangor, Instonians, Dungannon or Ballymena to cover a game for the paper.
Ken once said that he didn’t want to be a full-time sports journalist. For him, there was journalism and there was sport. And he loved his sport. Back in the day, he was a fellow member of CIYMS Rugby Club (later becoming a Ballymena RFC stalwart….). The other sporting passion we had in common was the fact that we were both lifelong and long-suffering Evertonians, and that takes bravery.
We stayed in contact when he went off to live in Kinsale and work for the Cork Examiner and when he eventually returned up north, swapping Kinsale for Ballymena…..and there aren’t many of whom that can be said.
A big man, a big personality, a big laugh, a fellow Evertonian and, best of all, a big heart.
RIP Big Ken Reid.