Karen Bradley’s vision of Northern Ireland politics is closer to the truth than we would like to admit

THE Secretary of State, Karen Bradley, caused something of a stir last week with her admission of surprise at voting patterns in our elections.

What a cheek for the British Government to send someone so ignorant about Northern Ireland.

However, perhaps we should stop jumping up and down for a minute and think about what she said.

I must admit I had never before thought of how she described our voting. She accurately analysed our elections and, in so doing, explained why we are in our present state. Simply, we vote to be top dog (in our own mind). Both communities have been suckered into this.

But there is only one community when it comes to health, education and roads — and that is the community we all live and suffer in together every day.

We have no government because of who we have elected and, despite all the wailing and protesting about needing something done, if there was an election, we would more than likely vote the same people back in again, rather than looking around for those willing and able to govern.

Perhaps Jim Allister’s voluntary coalition idea, or Mike Nesbitt’s vote across the parties idea, don’t seem that foolish after 20 months adrift.

Maybe Karen Bradley’s description of us was not ignorance, but how we present to the unblinkered eyes of a stranger.

RAYMOND HUGHES Ballyclare, Co Antrim