You're hired!
It looks like there could be a few job vacancies up at Stormont in the next few weeks, as DUP double jobbers make up their minds whether they want to be MPs or MLAs. Nigel Dodds is thought to favour Westminster, whereas Jeffrey Donaldson may concentrate on Stormont.
Under the old system if an MP stepped down as an MLA the authorities would have to consult his or her list of six substitutes to determine who should get the job (by-elections were ruled out on the grounds that, in a multi-member constituency, a vacancy could benefit another party).
But under passed earlier this year the choice of a new MLA is entirely in the hands of the party nominating officer. This brings to mind an image of Peter Robinson scanning far and wide to assemble "a government of all the talents". Sir Alan Sugar for Enterprise Minister? Drat, Gordon Brown has beaten him to the punch.
Nevertheless it will be interesting to see who the First Minister hires. In his Kings Hall speech Jim Allister also sounded a bit like Sir Alan - his line about the Assembly P45s, being his equivalent of Sir Alan's "you're fired!" In response to Mr Allister's vow to contest North Antrim, Ian Paisley Junior points out that he has served as his father's apprentice for 18 years and has no intention of getting fired anytime soon.
The TUV leader is tonight speaking in Lurgan, launching a recruitment drive for his party, essentially appealing to disenchanted DUP and UUP activists to defect. One problem he faces in attracting any disgruntled DUP MLAs is the post dated resignation letter they were all made to sign before becoming Assembly members. It seemed like a good wheeze to discourage disloyalty but I wonder what a lawyer (I am sure the TUV could find one) would make of such letters in an employment tribunal. How much authority does any document have if it was signed under duress?
Last night I wrote an for the main website before making a last appearance on a late election programme. I was obviously punch drunk after a long day because I talked about an impenetrable force meeting an immoveable object. Not the first time I have mangled a well known saying. In my defence I was stone cold sober which is more than can be said, I guess for many UCUNFers, who held a victory bash at the Stormont hotel, with the main guests their candidate Jim Nicholson and his six sons. Were there some sore heads this morning in County Armagh?.
I'm 
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