In this part of the world now known as Backstopland, we have been doing without elected representation for about two years. We continue to pay our MLAs for no particular reason.
We have a Minister of State so out of touch with local feelings that in the middle of an official enquiry into the Ballymurphy shootings of civilians by British soldiers she proclaimed in the House of Commons that it was impossible for the army to commit crimes.
Meanwhile, we have local elections of councillors, the unsung heroes of politics. I say unsung, except by one of our notorious MLAs, Ian Paisley Junior. He is backing their demand for a pay hike. So while public sector workers are held to pay increases below the rate of inflation, politicians want to give themselves a big pat on the back.
A party called People before Profit might have an opinion on that one, but they won’t get elected because it’s a two tribes contest as usual. The DUP, who do not respect the majority of people in Backstopland who voted to remain in the EU, will continue to bang on about their Britishness, while Sinn Fein talk among themselves about Irish Unity.
The SDLP have headed South to try to rebuild their party after poor results in Backstopland. Posters have appeared downtown with humourous messages that might provoke some people to question the point of elections or voting for the usual crowd of self-serving bigots.
odespinner 