Martin McGuinness went to the heart of the British political establishment yesterday to issue a warning that if the elections are delayed beyond the first year’s anniversary of the suspension of the devolved institutions, the whole pro-Agreement project will be in serious trouble.
The decision to postpone the elections by Tony Blair effectively disempowers the pro-Agreement parties, and it is absolutely vital and essential that the British prime minister recognises that these elections should take place in the autumn of this year.
If we see a situation whereby the suspension of the institutions, or the cancellation of the elections which does not provide then for the establishment of an assembly and executive, goes past the one-year anniversary in October, I think the Good Friday Agreement will be in dire straits.
It pays not to take any provisional deadlines too seriously, from whichever party they come. However the focus on the Agreement being in trouble, rather than the more ephemeral peace process, may be an early recognition that if Trimble cannot wrest free of his dissenting wing by then, in the words of Ulster’s most immortal political phrase, all bets are off!
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Discover more from Slugger O'Toole
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
