Across The Water

Of course Labour was not planning a Coalition with abstentionist Sinn Féin.

Although it must be said that the DUP has been managing that for many a long year now.

In the face of which, whatever the arithmetic of the next Parliament, the appointment of an SDLP MP as Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office might very well be the decision of the man who will be Prime Minister under any circumstance other than the wild improbability of a Conservative overall majority.

There is currently only one Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office. But such matters are very much at the discretion of the Prime Minister. How to balance the SDLP within the Government, while also balancing the DUP and Sinn Féin? Step forward, Sylvia, Lady Hermon.