Last week: “He’s going back into Stormont.”
This week: “Oh no he isn’t.”
And so the DUP pantomime continues, with the potential for a restoration of the institutions now kicked into next year – or so we’re led to understand. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson yet again demonstrating a lack of courage, unable to tell the public directly that their hopes won’t be fulfilled this side of Christmas.
Instead we relied on a non-attributable line from an unidentified party spokesperson. The Lagan Valley MP didn’t even turn up at Hillsborough Castle media circus to explain why he’s leaving people hanging over the festive season.
What the latest sticking point is, we’re non the wiser.
It’s an approach that reeks of contempt for the electorate, including DUP voters, but typifies the merry-go-round process that has dragged on for some 22 months. The timescale and consistent indecision would suggest something significant will eventually be delivered but that’s all part of the charade.
What the British government eventually concedes to the DUP won’t remove the Windsor Framework and won’t change commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago. They’re simply tinkering around the edges, trying to find a form of words – and what Jim Allister characterises as a ‘fig leaf’ – that will enable the Sir Jeffrey to walk backwards out of the mess he helped create.
Read more: DUP blames TUV members for putting up ‘sellout’ posters in ‘intimidation’ attempt
Ulster will suffer as long as unionism remains stuck at the crossroads
Any suggestion that the deadlock stems from the financial package tabled by the British government last week is risible, though potentially the DUP may quietly try to spin it as such, in order to deflect blame for more dithering. All the parties agreed that the money on offer fell short of their expectations and in so many ways that element of the deal will be negotiated collectively, rather than by one party.
As for the weekend shenanigans with posters claiming ‘sell out’ outside DUP offices, we are getting a glimpe of the fallout that’s to be expected when Sir Jeffrey finally decides to jump. Karma is a wonderful thing and many would be forgiven, especially the Ulster Unionists, for enjoying the schadenfreude. The backlash from the intransigents will be high-profile and newsworthy but ultimately ineffectual. Those behind the campaign have nothing to offer beyond protest, which will soon peter out.
While talks around finances will continue at Hillsborough for the meantime, the focus now shifts to 2024. It has been speculated that January 18 will become the next deadline, the date when Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is supposed to decide whether there should be another assembly election but if this tedious, drawn-out process has taught us anything, it’s not to be calender-led.
It’s also worth remembering that the panto season extends into February.
