Desperate attempt to keep show on the road

ANOTHER day, another deadline. Most of us have lost count of how many red-ringed dates in the calendar have come and gone without our politicians reaching the deal they were supposed to.

The lights were burning late last night at Parliament Buildings as discussions between Sinn Fein and the DUP continued but, yet again, no agreement emerged.

Although a flicker of hope still remains. Secretary of State James Brokenshire said that in light of progress made he would defer his decision to introduce a budget for Northern Ireland, but he would reassess that position tonight. Even if he does move to pass a budget in the House of Commons before we run out of money, the Government won’t pull the plug on Stormont and introduce full-blown direct rule. Instead, London will repeat the mantra that it’s continuing to work with the two parties to see devolution restored. The talks will drag on over coming days and weeks. With even political anoraks bored stiff, the public will pay next to no attention.

If an agreement is reached, most people will be doubtful that any new Executive will function successfully and survive.

Credibility in our political institutions was never that high anyway but it’s taken an incredible hammering in recent months.

Mr Brokenshire has also been in the firing line over his handling of the talks. Much of what he has said has been exposed as hollow. Back in March, he referred to the “short window of opportunity” that existed to broker an agreement. Seven months later, the government is still patiently holding open the door for the DUP and Sinn Fein.

London’s approach has been all carrot and no stick. Commentators have chided the Secretary of State for not manning up and taking decisive action like stopping, or significantly reducing, MLAs’ wages. The weak response is because the Government is desperate to keep the Stormont show on the road. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and Downing Street wants power-sharing ministers in office on that key date.

Stopping MLAs’ pay runs the risk of seeing many walk away from politics and killing the dream of devolution. The DUP is also undoubtedly using its sway with the Tories to stop any drastic cuts to Stormont salaries. Without a deal, Arlene Foster’s party remains in a strong political position due to parliamentary arithmetic. But the DUP leader herself would become increasingly impotent with the balance of power shifting to her Westminster team.

There are pros and cons for Sinn Fein to being out of government.

The working class voters it won back in this year’s elections will be entirely happy but there is a risk that at least some middle class supporters could become fed up.

Colum Eastwood’s stringent attacks on the Shinners may finally begin to hit their target with that constituency. The talks continue today. As we celebrate Halloween, the question is whether the two big parties will keep wearing their traditional costumes — or be finally spooked into a deal.