Was anyone really surprised that Edwin Poots, at the Covid inquiry, should have doubled down on his expressed belief that the virus affected more people in nationalist areas than unionist ones?
Not because they kept coal in the bath, but because there was all that hugging at GAA matches, which are well-known love fests.
His theory was dismissed at the time by Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride as being without evidence. But then Pootsy has always had a shaky grasp of matters scientific, since he believes the world began only 6,000 years ago.
Luckily, for a people facing an unprecedented global pandemic, there were other politicians working in our interests, weren’t there? Er, not so much.
First Minister Arlene Foster’s party insisted on using its veto to block Covid restrictions twice. Then the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, walked in a massive funeral parade for a colleague, while expecting ordinary people to stay away from the bedsides of their dying relatives, because them’s the rules.
Carál Ní Chuilín had at least the grace to tell the inquiry she was sorry for her attendance. It might have saved a lot of grief if her party colleagues had shown similar remorse at the time.
But at least the NI Civil Service was there to make up for the shortcomings of the Executive, or “dysfunctional b*****ds” as they were also known. After all, they’d all learned lessons from the RHI debacle.
Alas, no. The service chiefs, on significant salaries, couldn’t even manage to retain their own phone messages, nor ensure ministers didn’t wipe theirs.
The families bereaved by Covid must be aghast at what they’ve heard.
Luckily, for a people facing an unprecedented global pandemic, there were other politicians working in our interests, weren’t there?
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There is a theory that the highly unpopular arrival of Tory right-winger Nathalie Elphicke into the Labour Party ranks was a wizard move of political genius by Sir Keir Starmer.
It’s part of his quest to turn Labour into a movement for Britons of all shades of opinion, to create a force that stays in power election after election, because it appeals to all-comers. If it can attract an MP who was hardline on Brexit and immigration, then Labour has obviously changed.
But aren’t you supposed to have a specific set of values and principles which you try to persuade people they should share?
Luckily Mrs E is not standing in the next election, so we can ignore questions about her previous criticism of Marcus Rashford for supporting free dinners for poor school kids and backing her sex-offender, now ex-husband. Apparently his only crime was that he was so attractive, women fell at his feet.
The Tory government might well be a sinking ship, but does Labour really need the rats jumping off to join them?
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A letter to The Guardian last week, from a German woman, made for interesting reading. She works for a government-run institution for newly-arrived asylum seekers to Germany.
She explained that their procedures included: interviews to determine the person’s name, nationality and languages spoken, health checks, interpretation services, a bed in a shared room, meals, free transport passes, German lessons and meetings with social workers.
They are encouraged to do jobs around the centre for pocket money and their application is helped if they have family members already in Germany.
“Showing people who’ve fled oppression, war, discrimination and persecution that they will be safe, listened to and protected will reward the host country when those who want to settle, eventually become citizens.”
Doesn’t that sound reasonable?
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Rows over global politics, a backstage dispute which saw the Dutch entry banned, Israel getting booed, a demonic witch representing Ireland, and men in thongs and corsets writhing in dance moves never seen in Strictly. Performance counts more than a decent song at the Eurovision now.
It’s a long way from the days of Katie Boyle. I’m afraid it’s nul points from me.