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Groundhog Day

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William Crawley | 17:57 UK time, Wednesday, 11 October 2006

If I hear another news reporter develop a political metaphor involving putting, long drives, slices, bunkers, patches of rough or the eighteenth hole, I'll throw my copy of the Good Friday Agreement at the TV set.

Our politicians have just begun their in a St Andrews hotel in an effort to restore devolution. Tony Blair says the political will exists; so let's see what happens.

For some time now, we've been expecting a big move by Sinn Fein on policing. When I interviewed Gerry Adams a few weeks ago, he told me that the ball was in Peter Hain's court on that score -- as soon as the UK government honoured assurances given to Sinn Fein, Mr Adams would ask his party to sign up to policing. Some recent resignations from Sinn Fein have added to the speculation that a deal on policing is on the cards. But will that, in itself, be enough for the DUP? Today, Dr Paisley spoke about the need for the "ill-gotten gains" of terrorism to be returned; but the DUP's language of late has been remarkably diplomatic -- adding some to believe they've already accepted that policing is a done deal and that a restored Assembly is within sight.

The word from St Andrews tonight is that policing is the main issue. I'm looking now at TV images of the DUP and Sinn Fein teams around the table, with Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, apparently laughing at the same joke. A deal seems to be in the air. But can it be secured by Friday? Friday the 13th, that is. Hmmm.

Comments

  • 1.
  • At 08:00 PM on 11 Oct 2006,
  • geoff hill wrote:

Paisley will never sign up to a government with Sin Fein in it. He doesn't forget and rarely forgives.

  • 2.
  • At 11:34 PM on 11 Oct 2006,
  • Bill wrote:

I'm afraid it's going to be a black Friday another horror movie!

  • 3.
  • At 10:48 AM on 12 Oct 2006,
  • Rick Hill wrote:

Perhaps the movies Caddyshack and Caddyshack II can provide you with a new set of metaphors...
In the sequel in order to settle things once and for all, the two sides face off in a golf match.

  • 4.
  • At 11:33 AM on 12 Oct 2006,
  • Bill wrote:

If we are hope for progress on the political front we will need a Stroke of Genius!

  • 5.
  • At 12:59 PM on 12 Oct 2006,
  • molly dee wrote:

While I share your impatience with golf metaphors and the present meeting, I notice that you use a sports metaphor yourself when you say that the ball is in Peter Hain's court(reporting on the Gerry Adam's interview).

What does it say about a society when sports metaphors have crept in to such an extent that we don't even notice them when we use them, and use them even when we are irritated by them?

  • 6.
  • At 02:48 AM on 13 Oct 2006,
  • wrote:

I think metaphors add a bit of spice to literary verbiage. Maybe I'm in danger of over egging the pudding, but we shouldn't throw out the baby with the bath water.
Seriously though - I'm glad there will be changes to the 'order in council' procedure if they don't bring home the bacon before 24th Nov.

  • 7.
  • At 02:52 PM on 13 Oct 2006,
  • wrote:

Sinn fein definately shouldnt join the policing board when they no full rightly that Paisly will never sit at a table with them. Gerry is wasting valuable time.

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