The shambles around Stormont’s indecision over Covid-19 restrictions has damaged the whole Stormont system

The Alliance Party is becoming hostile to enforced power sharing across the full political spectrum. Peter Robinson, opposite, also acknowledges problems with such a system of government.

Some nationalists who demanded mandatory coalition in 1998 when they feared being a minority now seem happy to ditch it, when they think they can form a majority coalition.

Loss of mandatory coalition would be a challenge for unionism but the Covid shambles has battered the concept.

The DUP looks foolish today not because it lost its battle within the Stormont executive: no party can easily hold out against four others that disagree with it. It looks foolish because Arlene Foster said business would reopen a week ago.

Last night, a shambolic agreement was reached that will see Northern Ireland lurch towards looser restrictions for seven days, such as hairdressers reopening, and then a very strict lockdown being introduced, including closure of non essential retail and people being urged to stay at home.

The DUP had been right to speak up for the private sector. Northern Ireland is addicted to handouts from London. While public sector workers are securely funded by taxpayers, small businesses face ruin. It is a grim situation. But the DUP did not have the political strength to dictate the Covid restrictions, yet raised hopes by talking as if it did.

The Covid infection rate is not good but few politicians talk about personal conduct and the irresponsible way some people are partying in homes, such as in the Holylands.

Messaging to the public was on the wrong footing after the IRA funeral, which our hectoring deputy first minister, Michelle O’Neill, attended. Disgracefully, police facilitated that mass gathering and Belfast closed Roselawn for it.

One decision by MLAs last night is welcome — schools are staying open. All exams next year must progress as normal.

But as for business, it is not remotely clear how the massive damage caused by these closures will be recovered.

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor