This is the authentic mammon versus bogus god moment for the DUP leader
Jeffrey Donaldson may now be prepared to seek the support of his party to return to the assembly and appoint a deputy first minister, alongside Sinn Féin’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill. Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker, I took notice. Donaldson was under no pressure whatsoever to respond and he knew how his internal and external opponents would interpret it: as a likely preparation for a return to Stormont.
A few months ago, the DUP press office would have issued a speedy response to that sort of editorial. It would have dismissed it and insisted there was no reorientating and no intention of being fobbed off with a paper pledge.
The key players in the DUP’s leadership team likely know the contents of the UK government’s final offer: the last piece of which we may hear in the King’s Speech during the state opening of parliament on Tuesday. Donaldson, I think, is now prepared to seek the support of his party to return to the assembly and appoint a deputy first minister, alongside Sinn Féin’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill.
Yes, Donaldson has internal and external opponents, but when the party is strong it is willing to face down opposition. The biggest decision it has had to make since 1998 was the one to form an executive with Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in the top-dog roles in May 2007. There were internal tensions but the party moved ahead and the only significant loss was Jim Allister who, a few months later formed the TUV.
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