More nudges and whispers, this time it’s the BBC’s security correspondent Barney Rowan reading the intense activity over the weekend as a sign the IRA may be contemplating a serious move on decommissioning. In truth it is hard to imagine a November poll without the IRA offering Trimble something to go to his key supporters with. From Sinn Fein’s point of view, it may be desireable to simply let the political process begin sooner rather than later, whether Trimble turns out to be their main post-election negotiating partner or not.
…if there is a deal, Adams and McGuinness could be in detailed talks with the IRA within days, Blair could have declared a November election date by the start of next week and Trimble could be moving to a meeting of his party’s ruling council, confident that republicans would speak and act before the unionist delegates gather.
Sources are suggesting that any discussions between Adams and McGuinness and the IRA could be as intense as their negotiations with the British and the unionists. The talk now – or the whisper I should say – is of the “optimum” being possible. That means an election and a deal.
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
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