A price for policing?
The puzzling thing about yesterday's trip by Gordon Brown to Stormont was why he was there at all. Yes, we know that the government is keen to get a justice deal done before the next Westminster election. But the parties traipsed in talking about narrowing the gap on the justice budget and they traipsed out saying much the same. Surely if this is a work in progress it could be left to officials? Don't Prime Ministers (even ones who may be approaching the end of their period in power) come in to seal the deal, not just to beaver away at the details?
Perhaps this is too harsh and today's Downing Street discussions will prove more decisive than is apparent on the surface. But the revelation that the DUP is looking for a series of confidence building measures, not all of which would be welcome so far as republicans are concerned, gives a sense of the complexity of the discussions. Retaining the full time police reserve, reviewing the withdrawal of personal protection weapons or replacing the Parades Commission may build confidence amongst unionists, but is it a price nationalists and republicans will want to pay for the transfer of policing powers?
On a separate matter, the move by South Belfast Ulster Unionists to propose a unionist unity candidate in the constituency has the potential to unravel the UUP's understanding with the Conservatives. The DUP warmly welcomed the initiative but I suspect the UUP leadership will knock the association back.
It's just one of a number of headaches Sir Reg Empey will face in the coming months, as the UUP and the Conservatives try to divide up the electoral spoils. One UUP source suggested to me that the Conservatives were looking for an even 9:9 split of the 18 available seats and accused the Tories of asking for too much.
A number of UUP selection contests have been pushed back - the official explanation is that this will allow candidates diappointed in one seat to enter the fray in another. But I can't help thinking that the UUP's approach right now resembles that of Mr Micawber, living in the hope that if you push off hard decisions (most notably in North Down) "something will turn up."
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~17~RS~)
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There is nowhere to discuss current affairs.
In a democracy this is a serious breach of free speech.
I am also concerned at censorship by moderators who use the excuse "no link to a current news story".
This is also a breach of human rights and free speech.
I am astonished by this BBC attitude, it is infantile and reprehensible.
The messageboard website used to contain "parliament" and "current affairs". It is now totally dumbed down.
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"lordsnoot"
You were intent in clearing throat/chest and venting your spleen !
I'm recent to this site and sometimes wonder why so few comments !
I can understand why the moderators ensure links to current stories.
Have you seen an "Andrew Neil" or a "Nick Robinson" comments
number into hundreds,but if themes didn't develop,it would be chaos !
You suggest that Parliament and current affairs were discussed in
greater depth,in the past.
Have you ever linked to "Blether with Brian" Interesting.
Mark's latest diary has two major items,and subs.
Needs more scribes to comment !
I'll post this and try to respond to the diary.
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Mark
Was G Brown talking to other party leaders?
Seems to be working hard.Maybe looking for DUP support in a hung
parliament!
Can you see the DUP supporting the Conservatives(U Unionists?
Maybe the DUP will be a rump party after May at Westminister!!!
The emergence of TUV has allowed Sinn Fein onto the front foot.
Suprise,suprise.South Belfast UU's,no fans of Cameron,Sir Reg et al.
Ah North Down !!!
Parsley v Dame Sylvia.
All we need is for McCartney to arise "from the political dead"!!!
How many shades of red,white and blue would that make ???
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Mark,
Does the DUP list look like this -
Dear Santa I mean Gordon -
For Christmas please may I have
1. Money for the Police.
2. Money to keep the Police reserve.
3. A justice Minister from the DUP.
4. A closer relationship with the Tories.
5. A £800 computer case
6. £375 to replace the leather on my desk.
7. More ties
8. A new deputy preferably Nigel
9. A new dummy for McGuiness
10. A pram to take baby doc about
11. A cuddly toy for Jeffrey
Please make sure I don't get this to at least Christmas to keep my deputy hanging on unless you can replace him.
Thanks
Mark this list sounds like another stalling tactic. Why not wait to next Christmas when more new toys would be out.
Stormontspy
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I noticed it was reported in the Times yesterday that 'peace in Northern Ireland,' was one of the sole political victories of the Labour government. Debates over the total accuracy of this statement aside, its clear the sentiment must have had some influence on Mr Brown's decision to visit the folks on the hill - get policing and justice sorted out and have a nice little achievement to flaunt when the election campaign gets started.
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I think Sinn Fein would be loath to agree to two breaches of the Patten recommendations: retaining full time reserve and retention of personal protection weapons, in order to get a deal on policing and justice. They would also be very reluctant to agree to something less powerful than the parades commission. The reason why both the DUP and Sinn Fein agreed that the Justice Minister would be acceptable to all sections of the community was to prevent either of the above parties from making such one-sided decisions. The DUP is trying to get some decisions it would make if they held the Justice Minister post made before it begins as they will not be able to afterwards. Even if the Justice Ministry, (under Alliance) agreed in future to these changes Sinn Fein could use it's veto.
Where was this deal-breaking list two years ago? Or last week? I know the DUP have consistently campaigned for these changes but yesterday was the first time they linked it to their acceptance of the devolution of policing and justice. A bit late in the negotiating game? Yasar Arafat was famous for bringing up new, crucial deal-breakers at the end of a negotiation sometimes after it was agreed and before it was signed. The DUP aren't that bad but will they get their way?
I believe if they don't they will introduce more crucial deal-breakers in the future. More pre-conditions that have yet to be mentioned in connection with this department's devolution. So the question is do Sinn Fein agree to these otherwise unacceptable changes or wait for worse to come?
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This is the usual mess from the DUP charge to get power,nothing was thought out properly. Dr Paisley said after the St Andrews agreement " we have successfully re-negotiated the Belfast Agreement" and devolution will only happen when there was an adequate financial package. So if that was so, why the chaos in the lack of funding across the board now. the truth is they are not fit for purpose, The people have hopefully seen through their rhetoric and continuous claims.
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