The bizarre saga of the Northern Ireland centenary stone appears to be wheezing towards its inevitably underwhelming conclusion, with the unionist parties reluctantly agreeing to pay for its installation in the grounds of Parliament Buildings.
In an example of unionism’s sense of entitlement, the DUP, UUP and TUV had wanted to use taxpayers’ cash.
The sums of money involved are relatively small - apparently less than £20,000 - which has made the foot-dragging all the more puzzling. Unionism has in recent years, for example, been able to secure resources to take the UK government to the Supreme Court over the NI Protocol, while the DUP alone was able to spend £282,000 on a Brexit advert in a London newspaper.
There is an unavoidable symbolism in unionism’s determination to erect an ugly stone - a mournful depiction of Northern Ireland’s six counties cast adrift from the rest of Ulster and Ireland as well as Britain - even while Stormont itself is mothballed due to DUP intransigence.
Reflecting on how to serve all of the people of the north in 2024, rather than focus on 1921, would be a useful way for unionist leaders to spend the Christmas and new year holiday.
