I’m getting a bit of schtick from David Vance for my slightly clumsy intro to the Hearts and Minds programme on Thursday. I’ve re-directed his attention to the after match analysis and awaiting his view. The feedback on DUP meeting yesterday seems to be positive, after a week of jittery reaction. Peter Hain’s limitation on Sinn Fein, likely played well with them. And there are rumours that the deep freeze from the NIO on concessions is beginning to thaw.There is no word however on how Paisley senior’s meeting with the Free Presbyterian Church went last night. That would have been one to have been a fly on the wall for. The church is tiny: thought to have about 12,000 adherents. The largely apolitical Elim Penticostal church is where it is all happening these days in evangelical Protestantism.
But if you consider that the so called 12 apostles were mostly Free P’s, they represent considerable social capital inside the party at a senior level. The balance of opinion inside the church will not be decisive, but the extent to which they buy into the Doc’s plan, will contribute to the stability (or lack of it) in the weeks and months ahead.
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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