ELECTIONS always have the potential to be destabilising, particularly in a political system as inherently unstable as at Stormont.
And so it is inevitably proving for our executive, where one minister is stepping down to stand for Westminster and another has come under pressure to do so.
Meanwhile, there is a budget for departmental spending – albeit under UUP protest – but no sign yet of a programme for government, with Rishi Sunak’s decision to go to the polls in early July threatening to push the plan beyond the summer recess.
The situations involving Robin Swann and Naomi Long differ slightly.
Mr Swann, whose decision to resume the crucial role of health minister was questioned when it was confirmed he would be the UUP’s candidate in South Antrim, will be replaced by party colleague Mike Nesbitt.
The resignation of justice minister Naomi Long, who will seek to win back the East Belfast seat held by the DUP’s Gavin Robinson, would be more complicated given that she was appointed by a cross-community vote rather than the d’Hondt mechanism.
The Alliance leader insists it is perfectly possible to run an election campaign while being a minister, having done it before. However, it is not a good look for Mrs Long, Mr Swann or the executive generally that less than four months after returning to Stormont, the commitment of ministers is being questioned.
What the election certainly does not provide an excuse for is the inexplicable delay in producing a programme for government.
The executive had planned to publish its plan to address a long list of pressing needs before the summer recess. It was already unsatisfactory that monies were being allocated to ministers before priorities for spending had been fully agreed.
Having repeatedly told us they wanted to be back in government and dealing with the many urgent issues facing our communities – not least the state of the health service and impact of the cost-of-living crisis – the public will fail to understand how parties did not have plans already at an advanced stage when the executive was restored in early February
However, even that summer date now appears to be in jeopardy after First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the election ‘purdah’ may prevent publication.
Having repeatedly told us they wanted to be back in government and dealing with the many urgent issues facing our communities – not least the state of the health service and impact of the cost-of-living crisis – the public will fail to understand how parties did not have plans already at an advanced stage when the executive was restored in early February. In fact, we were assured meetings between parties and civil servants had been arranged during suspension with this specific purpose in mind.
After enduring so much start-stop government, and having been let down so many times before, patience with our politicians is wafer-thin. Given the two-year gap in governance, perhaps a commitment to work through the summer until a fully agreed and costed programme for government is in place would help provide some hope that this time it might be different.
