25th Aug 2008
Is SF overplaying its hand?
So the gauntlet has been thrown down again.
The Power Sharing Executive will be collapsed if the principal parties cannot agree on fundamental policy. Not surprising I hear you say. What with the economy in the state it’s in and so much to do in education, health as well as the real and present challenge of global warming. This is an executive with lots on its agenda. Understandable if regrettable that they might not be able to agree on one of the above and have to call an election.
Not so.
Sinn Fein are threatening to collapse Stormont if they don’t get devolution of policing and justice now. Important yes and the DUP should not delay what is the obvious missing piece in the devolution jigsaw, but the electorate want government not stand off and they need leadership not brinkmanship.
The Irish Times today reports that the Church of Ireland Gazette has also said it is too soon for devolution of policing. Canon Iain Ellis the paper’s editor said:
“What appears to happen is that decisions are very often taken on what effectively is a system of ‘trade-off of demands’ between the political parties, as opposed to focusing on the real merits in particular issues.”
SF will be monitoring nationalist response to this latest ’show of stregnth’.
Don’t be surprised if the electorate tell them to get back to their desks and do the job they are being paid to do.
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