Tag Archives: Martin Smyth

Ron Aitken

Opinion: Lessons learned the hard way will have to be re-learned following the riots in Tottenham

By Ron Aitken | Wed 10th August 2011 - 10:36 am

As a young research assistant I was in Northern Ireland on the day of the June 1987 General Election, campaigning for the re-election of my boss the Rev Martin Smyth, Ulster Unionist MP for South Belfast and head of the Orange Order.

Elections in Northern Ireland were always conducted in a way mindful of possible violence or terrorist attack, and an RUC patrol intercepted a car in the vicinity of a school being used as a polling station. The IRA occupants of the car were found to be armed and an explosive device was also found. Mr Smyth was in the …

Continue reading »
Posted in Op-eds | Also tagged , , and | 5 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Peter Davies
    @David Allen: Indeed. writing good articles for LDV is an ideal way to start....
  • Steve Comer
    An excellent column with some sound ideas. I suspect the UK Foreign Office is pursuing a policy of "suck up to Trump and hope he doesn't play nasty with us." ...
  • David Allen
    @ Neil Sandison, @ Peter Davies, A leadership challenger C who offers a substantial change in policy or strategy should not begin by declaiming "Make me your...
  • Hywel
    @Peter Davies The 2007 leadership election was contested by two MPs first elected only 2 years and 7 months earlier. Chris Huhne contest the leadership having...
  • Roland
    >” What is the Scottish Government doing to stop care-experienced young people dying prematurely?” Whilst I understand the rationale for the use of su...