Gerry Adams mysteriously changed the headline on his blog post
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"Game Up. Not Game Over." So ran the headline on
Gerry Adams' blog,
which announced that discussions with the DUP on policing and justice had run out of steam. What does that mean? If the game's up, it normally means that it's over too - unless you're referring to different games and the one that isn't over is only about to begin. Confused? Even my word processor is having difficulty with that last sentence. Our political process has enough tease built-in to qualify as burlesque - try not to think of it too literally as it might prove disturbing - as step-by-step each new utterance reveals another layer of mystery. So, Martin McGuinness briefed the Sinn Fein officers on Thursday. They, in turn, will send a report to the leadership board - the Ard Comhairle - on Saturday. They, we're told, will decide what happens next: - They could announce that Martin McGuinness is withdrawing from the Stormont government with immediate effect;
- They could say that the Deputy First Minister will withdraw by a specified date if policing and justice matters are not resolved;
- Or they could say neither, only hint at either of the aforementioned and call on the British and Irish governments to roll their sleeves up.
Gerry Adams says he told the DUP the negotiations were finished on Wednesday. That means he realised the game was up, to use his terminology, on Wednesday evening. The DUP's Arlene Foster professed shock and disappointment to find no Sinn Fein negotiators at Stormont on Thursday. That's funny, says Gerry, because we told you we wouldn't be there.
Arlene Foster accused Sinn Fein of failing to turn up on Thursday
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It's even funnier when you consider that the DUP, and perhaps UUP, had already jointly concluded that it was game over at least three days before Sinn Fein. Why else were they meeting in secret under the auspices of the Conservatives at a stately home in England, discussing potential pacts and how to avoid a Sinn Fein First Minister? It's funnier still when you consider these secret talks happened on Sunday and that Sinn Fein had been told by the DUP that they couldn't negotiate on the Sabbath. Lame duck? I'm sure the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward also saw the funny side of unionist politicians moving straight past him to discuss tactics with the man they expect to replace him after the Westminster elections. It surely doesn't suggest that they view him as a lame duck, does it? And so we return to Friday and Sinn Fein's line that the "current round of negotiations" has concluded without a deal. - Does the party still think it can stay in government without a deal, and for how long?
- Will the Ard Comhairle play hard-ball or will it allow more time?
Somewhat intriguingly, the headline on Gerry Adams' blog changed in the course of the day to "there can be no preconditions". A significant change of emphasis or just another bit of tease? On Sunday's Politics Show we'll try to bring some clarity to things with some of the key players. We'll also report from the Alliance conference - which is being streamed live on the BBC news website on Saturday - and assess the mood of the UCUNF pact. See you Sunday, Jim PS - Our politicians have recently been accused of being somewhat economical with the truth. Perhaps they're inspired by Dolly Parton, who tells the Times: "I'm artificial, but it comes from a sincere place."
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