Sam McBride: A momentous week which will change Stormont - and demonstrates why politics matters

The events of recent days will not be quickly forgotten

View email online

Subscribe              Nov 14, 2020           Dear reader, Well thank goodness that week is over. The unedifying spectacle delivered by Stormont will not be quickly forgotten by many of those who have suffered as a result. The political implications will also be far-reaching - not just for the credibility of this Executive and its leaders, but for the sustainability of devolution itself.  The pandemic will mean multiple difficult decisions, but there are also contentious decisions on Irish language legislation, Troubles legacy issues and public sector reform. Will a weak and divided Executive unite to push those through? After this week, that is much less likely. It was also a challenging story to cover, with the Executive leaking like a river pouring into its floodplain - but with lots of dubious spin. But it was a stark demonstration of why politics matters. It has long been fashionable in parts of Northern Irish society to declare one's disinterest in politics. As this week demonstrates, there are understandable reasons for many potential voters to eschew any part in a system so absurdly detached from the reality of most people's lives. Yet it is those who opt out of politics who allow the others to decide on the identity and priorities of our rulers. They might have ignored politics but this week has surely demonstrated to many people that they might have ignored politics, but it is not ignoring them and is now impacting directly on their lives. In today's News Letter I have attempted to unravel the spin about what really happened this week and explain what it means in a 2,500-word long read:  Things fall apart: Stormont's dark week reveals melancholic truth even its spin cannot hide Thanks for your time and let's hope for better weeks ahead! Sam Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 a month for 3 months - and it couldn't be easier. Signing up will get you faster-loading articles, fewer adverts and access to exclusive content and events when we run them. To learn more, visit our Subscriptions page here.           Sam McBride: A week when Stormont plumbed new depths of rank incompetence (and four other things we learned this week)           In a week of staggering incompetence at Stormont, our political editor Sam McBride examines five developments at the Northern Ireland Assembly this week.                 Sam McBride: DUP had the raw political power to ditch restrictions entirely – so why did it take cold feet?   The issues now exposing the Executive's shambolic indecision involve the intersection of medicine, economics, the role of government – and raw political power.           High farce as NI Assembly debates and votes on pandemic law which has already been repealed   In an Assembly debate which surpassed Stormont's already high bar of absurdity, Northern Ireland's legislature has debated for the first time whether to approve coronavirus restrictions which have already been repealed.           Executive flounders haplessly, and then goes home at 8pm – with still no hint of a decision on restrictions   The Executive's reputation tonight lies lower than the floor of Beaufort's Dyke as even howls of despair and derision from the public could not force ministers to finally take a decision on coronavirus restrictions.           With just 53 days to go, leak reveals Irish Sea border shambles – and unravels government spin   An experienced freight industry figure has said that he is "panicking" over the looming Irish Sea border – which a leaked document reveals will be far harder than admitted.           Kilclooney escapes Lords' sanction over Kamala Harris 'Indian' tweet   Lord Kilclooney will not face any sanctions over a Twitter message in which he referred to US vice-president-elect Kamala Harris as "the Indian," the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has said.           Documents show DUP minister Edwin Poots' officials building Irish Sea border – which he says he opposes   Edwin Poots' officials are heavily involved in constructing the Irish Sea border infrastructure, new documents reveal – despite the DUP minister's insistence he fundamentally opposes that border.           Sam McBride: Things fall apart: Stormont's dark week reveals melancholic truth even its spin cannot hide   The roots of Stormont's almost drunkenly incompetent lurches over recent days lie in events several weeks ago, but also in a perplexing development seven days ago.                 View more news

You have received this email as you are opted in to newsletters from the News Letter, published by JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. To manage your individual newsletter preferences with us, please click here and log in to your account.     Alternatively you can update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive from JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, or unsubscribe from all future emails.     JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 11499982, having its registered address at 1, King Street, London, England, EC2V 8AU, United Kingdom. We will process your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy.