Belfast Blogger

Anyone else noticed the prospect of a new dawn for politics here?  A faint whiff of spring in the squally autumn air?

Me neither.  But you can’t deny certain events in the last week indicate that the unthinkable might happen, and that Big Ian and Beardy Gerry might soon be saying “I do” to each other over the Stormont altar, and then engaging in some, quite frankly, vomit-inducing nuptials afterwards.  Before revealing the happy couple’s new house, however, let’s all put on Lloyd Grossman voices and look at the evidence.

Spring gambol 1 - The positive IMC report hasn’t been completely rubbished by the DUP.  The DUP not completely rubbishing anything is, in reality, their strongest form of endorsement.  Of course they didn’t say it was wonderful, but they never will.  Its all about shifts in language.  Which brings us onto

Spring gambol 2 - Supreme Dictator Peter Permatan Hain wouldn’t be running for “New” Labour deputy leadership if he wasn’t able to play hard and fast with language.  Suddenly the famous November deadline isn’t one for getting the assembly running, its one to get agreement to get the assembly running.  This allows the DUP to not-rubbish another IMC report, and Sinn Fein to finally finally not rubbish the local police force before they go into full government.  And that has resulted in…

Spring gambol 3 - An increased sense of desperation from the UUP and SDLP as they once again see their futures disappear, wrecked by not being orange or green enough.  Their embarrassing joint fact-finding trip to Scotland shows just how far removed from the action these two once-popular parties are.  As votes, membership and funding falls, how long before one becomes Fianna Fail in the 6 counties and the other becomes the Northern Ireland branch of the Conservatives?  Speaking of funding…

Spring gambol 4 - The Northern Ireland Civil Service has started trawling internally for Private Secretary posts to serve the new First and Deputy First Ministers.  No way would funding be diverted to this unless beancounting madarins in Stormont were pretty sure something was going to happen soon.

So who would make a deal like this?  Its far from certain that I&G will be the new Mr and Mrs up the hill in a few months time.  But you have to admit there’s a certain something different in the air right now.