Royals and magic bullets: it’s still about the stupid economy.
As gesture politics go, I actually thought last week’s state visit seemed oddly empty. I know we were being constantly told how to read the importance of the symbolism, yet the footage of Queen Elizabeth attending various events largely lacked the sense of a departure from history that came with the likes of Bill Clinton’s 1995 visit to Belfast. Personally, as a benchmark, the Clinton visit had a historical feel that far outweighed the parts, which are godawful when you …