For myself, I'd rather they just put this bloody NI Assembly in place, and anyone who doesn't want to turn up to do the governing can be replaced by the guy who came second in the polls. I wish Blair and Aherne had the balls to say "Well Ian, it's your choice - you can share power alongside Adams and McGuinness, or you can refuse and give them absolute power." That'd sort the old bastard out.

Leaving it "on the long finger" really ain't an option. If you sign direct rule over to Westminster, the Catholic 50% shout and scream. If you sign direct rule over to Eire, the Protestant 50% shout and scream. The only option is to give them the power between them.

My big worry is that they don't *want* the responsibility. To their credit, whatever they've done in the past, I think Adams and McGuinness are up for it. But I'm not convinced the DUP in general have bought into it enough to back their leader(s).

Graham.