Declan Kearney’s comments are both unfair and inappropriate

Yet in fact it needs to be emphasised again and again and again because of the approach of one party.

In the latest inappropriate incident, Declan Kearney MLA has written an article for the republican publication An Phoblacht in which he accuses “right-wing elements in the British Cabinet, and ... some unionists in the north of Ireland” of “typical capitalist reflex which puts the market economy first. Corporate greed over public welfare”.

The first deplorable aspect of the comment is that it is nonsense. As Lord Empey says, a Conservative government with an overall majority has thrown the weight of the state into intervention on a massive scale.

The second deplorable aspect is the apparent attack on the motives of parties with which Sinn Fein shares power, with a clear implication that they place money over human welfare.

Mr Kearney is in fact a minister in the department at the helm of the multi-party executive.

This follows Sinn Fein attacks on Robin Swann, the health minister, and amid a relentless attempt to move the response to Covid-19 away from the UK and towards the “all-island strategy” that was again demanded yesterday by Mr Kearney.

Sinn Fein has demanded the toughest possible lockdown, then delayed on giving powers to police.

The party has insisted that cemeteries stay closed but has said little of any force against republican funeral breaches of social distancing.

Republicans demanded that businesses such as Ulster Carpets close, and now, weeks later, Stormont has issued grossly belated advice on businesses that does not in any event fully explain the position.

This is a deeply unhelpful approach, given that the UK like all states is trying to figure out a safe way to ease lockdown.