Northern Ireland and powersharing in Stormount.

^^^^

100% this.

They can waffle about protocols and brexit and border etc, but the cold hard fact is that they simply can't accept a Catholic/Nationalist as the top dog.

They never thought the time would come, now it has.

The DUP are like the kid who gets in a huff when he is loosing so takes his ball and sulks off home ruining it for everyone.

At the last election they got 21% of the vote but 28% of the seats, which looks like extraordinary good luck. So, even if their vote share doesn't go down at all in the next election — even if it goes up a bit, in fact — there's a sporting chance that they'll end up with fewer seats, rather than more seats. And they'll know this.

I don't share the view that this is all about not having an SF First Minister. No doubt that's very unpleasant for them, but they are perfectly aware that it's meaningless; the titles may differ, but the legal powers, status, role and authority of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister are in fact identical. They'd like to hang on to the symbolic title, but I don't think they would jeopardise their access to power and patronage, and risk some form of direct rule with input from the Irish government, for the sake of an empty symbol. I think their objections to the Windsor Framework are genuine. The way they're pursuing those objections is astonishingly stupid, but the objections themselves are sincere and heartfelt.

I doubt SF would be interested in setting that sort of precedent.

You don't think unionists would act stupid and dangerous for the sake of an empty symbol? Are you aware of what the DUP are?

The DUP are a disgrace, but the real problem are the people who watch their country fall into ruin because their politicians won't do their jobs and then go out and vote for them again.

If the DUP doesn't get downvoted into oblivion if ever there is another election then Northern Ireland deserves all it gets.

They do say you get the politicians you deserve. Its your choice.

But the nature of NI politics always means that a large section of society will always vote for the same party, whether it is good for them or not.

I know plenty of SF supporters who HATE the SDLP, and would never vote for them, and vice versa, so it's not just the unionists you can blame for being intransigent.

To be fair, it's not all of the nearly 2 million people of Northern Ireland that are to blame, it's just the people that vote for the DUP and other parties that refuse to form a government. So one half of the people have the other half to blame for it.

I haven't voted in 6 years so I am not to blame for anything. I voted for Brexit though

As I recall it, Sinn Féin called for a fresh election in 2017 after the DUP were caught out with the whole cash for ash scandal.

Then after the election the negotiations between the parties led to a deal that the DUP walked away from and they refused to resume negotiations for years.

This current stalemate in negotiations is just another example of the DUP denying Nationalists their rights.

The DUP walked away from negotiations after a draft deal was agreed by all parties.

Ignoring the part where as pointed out already, the DUP did.

You're very quick to accuse there, assuming I am a supporter of Sinn Féin. It's not a biased point to point out the DUP are at the core of all the issues here and it's not a new thing.

And taking away voters rights to vote for parties they prefer is obviously not compatible with democracy. Voters are entitled to vote for parties that carry out their wishes, it just happens that the DUP voters aren't bothered with the current status enough to change their votes.

Getting rid of the parties will not make any difference, what you are really saying is get rid of the voters behind the parties, and obviously that is not the way forward. When there are two large parties that won't meet in the middle and preventing the devolved government from forming, what else can be done if one side refuses to negotiate? Just wait for the State Secretary to call another election, which for some reason he is refusing to do.

You're not making any sense here. The DUP are refusing to allow a devolved government to form, not Sinn Féin. It's clear who you are trying to scapegoat here. Why are you trying so hard to deflect blame from the DUP?

"I doubt anyone voted for Sinn Fein hoping they would manage to shut down the assembly AGAIN by bickering with the DUP AGAIN."

Comments like this one suggest you don't have a clue what you are on about.

Try reading up on it, you'll find reports such as the following:

"There has been no functioning government in Northern Ireland as the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is refusing to restore power-sharing unless the sea border created by the Brexit deal is removed."

You quoted an article as "proof" which as I already provided a section from that article.

If you just want to constantly point the finger at the DUP and not realise that Sinn Fein are equally as bad that is your choice.

As I said both parties getting kicked from Northern Ireland would go a long way to finally getting issues resolved and a proper assembly.

One party is as useless as the other.

Looks like Stormont will be returning pretty soon. Great to see some progress.

But the people are not voting for both parties to shut down the assembly at any whim they decide to come up with

Remember while the assembly is shut down all these politicaisn are sitting at home doing nothing on full pay. Do you think people want that?

Till the next minor issue they can bicker over and try shut it down again

I think this shows the need to remove these vetos. No other parliament has them. We are 25 years removed from the GFA and the associated "peace in our time". (purposeful misquote btw)

Bryson is a very angry little man today.

Those are like stabilizers. Sometimes you have to take the stabilizers off. If 25 years isnt enough, how long is? Also, when they are absorbed back into the Irish state, there won't be the same setup anyway.

This is the sickening part. They shouldnt be paid.

Does anyone else think that this assembly is just not going to last? I mean once the DUP hear that Michelle O'Neil has been speaking to anyone without the deputy first minister, they are going to freak out. Especially if it involves anyone in the Irish government...