Brian Feeney has been thinking about the recent comments by various shades of unionism regarding the timing of the devolution of policing and justice powers, as well as the need- or otherwise- for a Bill of Rights for the north of Ireland. He argues that many unionists remain in a time warp, clinging to an imaginary Britain, and he offers this:
“The current excuse for resisting devolution of justice and policing is that Sinn Fein will have a ministry. So the principle has already been conceded – the only objection is political. Who exercises the power. It’s a bit like being in the swimming pool but too scared to let go of the bank, which more or less sums up the whole unionist attitude to power-sharing.”
