GORDON must be pretty desperate to avoid his first defeat in the Commons, so with the possibility of widespread dissension in Labour’s ranks, it’s no surprise to discover that the DUP could be power brokers in the crucial vote. Only thing is, the vote is on 42-day detention for terrorist suspects. How could the DUP vote this down with its impeccable (well, mostly impeccable) anti-terrorism credentials?! I must admit a chuckle after reading Gregory Campbell’s attempt to keep the Government guessing: “We were initially opposed to internment in Northern Ireland and there are some who would argue that this is a form of internment.” Aye, right! Forty-two days without charge sounds like a DUP wet dream. And a £200m sweetener – by allowing Stormont to keep the proceeds of a number of empty army barracks – might mean the DUP could somehow overcome this recently-developed opposition to internment.
Discover more from Slugger O'Toole
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
