Northern Ireland: Tone deaf?

Robin Sheeran The Politics Show Northern Ireland

Sign up for the Northern Ireland Newsletter

Tony Blair has a long winding road to retirement from office

Ask not for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for Tone.

As the Prime Minister embarks on what he assures us will be his last Labour conference, Politics Show's Ruth McDonald talks to party activists and politicians from Northern Ireland about nine years of the New Labour experience.

Tony Blair's reputation may ultimately rest with the war in Iraq, but his personal involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process has been an enduring aspect of his premiership.

Despite this, the Labour Party has been unwilling to show much enthusiasm for organising here.

After much agonising, it finally revised a longstanding rule that barred people living in Northern Ireland from party membership.

Satisfaction

Raj Chada suffered the anguish of losing his seat

But members here are still campaigning for the right to organise and stand for election.

Adrian McMenamin worked for the party press office in the heady days when the concept of "spin" first entered the British political vocabulary.

He looks back with satisfaction at their achievements.

"There is a lot to be proud of," he says. "I'm not saying we didn't make mistakes, but in comparison to the mistakes the benefits we got are much bigger."

Raj Chada moved to Camden in north London seven years ago.

He got involved in Labour grassroots politics and later served as leader of Camden Council.

Labour lost control of the council last year and the Magherafelt man lost his seat.

"It was a bitter pill," he admits, the more so because Labour had been in power in Camden for 35 years.

For the high jump

Kate Howie is scathijg on membership...

Kate Hoey is Labour MP for Vauxhall in south London and a former Minister of Sport.

In a former life she was Northern Ireland high jump champion.

Ms Hoey has been outspoken in support of Labour organising in Northern Ireland.

"The Labour Party now allows membership in Northern Ireland but the membership doesn't mean anything," she says.

Conor McGinn is a London Labour activist.

He has stood as a council candidate in Islington, but believes there is no real appetite for the party in Northern Ireland.

"I think that people back at home would probably be of the opinion that there are more than enough political parties organising there without another coming in."

Be sure to join presenter Jim Fitzpatrick for Politics Show from Northern Ireland - Sunday 24 September 2006 at 12:00 BST on BBC One. You get a second chance to see the programme again that night, at 22:55 BST on BBC One.

The Politics Show

Be sure to join presenter Jim Fitzpatrick for the first in the new series of the Politics Show from Northern Ireland - Sunday 24 September 2006 at 12:00 BST on BBC One.

You get a second chance to see the programme again that night, at 23:15 BST on BBC One.

Let us know what you think.

---

Read your comments on the programme here...

---