Stakes too high to play power games

crises: an executive that has already been suspended for six months; a new generation of leadership on both sides that has not established strong working relationships; and the spectre of a Brexit raising real fears of another “hard border” between north and south, with all the worrying consequences that might bring. When crises hit Northern Ireland, the primary responsibility for sorting them out lies with the parties in Belfast. But Dublin and London are indispensable supporting players. The UK Government’s periodic role as an honest broker is now needed again. It has a duty – to the heroic, courageous moves towards peace on all parties in the recent past, and to the people NEGOTIATIONS of Northern Ireland Gordon Brown now and in the future – to be and to appear impartial. This is why the ConservativeDUP deal is so concerning. Any UK Government formally reliant on any Northern Irish party simply cannot be seen as the honest broker it needs to be. Without that integrity, the UK Government will be a force for instability rather than stability at a time of serious difficulty. The idea of a formal deal should be abandoned. They are playing with fire. And stakes are too high.