It seems Martin McGuinness is not the only one ‘spinning’ against the DUP. Someone in or around the NIO has leaked details of how the DUP might be hit financially if there was no closure by November. The consequences for other parties is not mentioned. Mark Devenport’s tip to look for the fate of the party’s advice centre network (being the most vulnerable part of its assets) as an indicator of likely near future progress is a useful one. Although Slugger hears that one senior Tory is briefing in terms of November 2007 as a more likely time for a return to local democratic business. After that, we are into RPA territory.
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