Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland may go down in history as a case study in ‘expectations versus reality’, and one nearly as cinematic as this classic scene from the film (500) Days of Summer.
Expectations:
- A multi-day presidential jaunt across the country.
- An historic address in front of a packed Stormont Assembly
- A joint press conference between Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak full of smiles, backslapping and mutual praise
- A surprise announcement of that sought-after UK-US trade deal
Reality:
- A trip that could be measured in hours
- The president made one speech at Ulster University, in which he called for the return of power-sharing
- A video clip in which Biden appears to turn his back on Sunak and talk to others instead
- And in lieu of a trade deal, there was analysis that Brexit will cost UK workers about £1,300 in lost income each year
Sure, none of this was a total shock. The Northern Ireland part of Biden’s visit to the island of Ireland is so brief because, in the absence of a functioning Executive in Belfast, there isn’t as much to cheer about. The Windsor Framework, the deal reached between the UK and EU to reform the Northern Ireland Protocol, has not brought the DUP back to the table.
I’ve written previously about the genius of the Good Friday Agreement. Not only how it helped bring about an end to The Troubles and establish a new power-sharing government, but how it empowered each and every citizen in Northern Ireland to live their lives with their identities respected. But the nature of power-sharing has made politics inherently unstable.
Indeed, the absence of a functioning Executive is nothing new. Stormont has not sat for roughly 40 per cent of its existence, since its inception in December 1999. From the very beginning, the Executive was beset with disagreements and collapses relating to IRA decommissioning and later the Irish language. Today the stumbling block is about checks in the Irish Sea.
It’s a shame, because there is a genuine economic prize on offer were devolution restored. Northern Ireland could expect to welcome greater investment, particularly from the US, thanks to its unique position of being inside the UK and the EU’s single market for goods. But that promise remains on hold for now.
The 25 years following the Good Friday Agreement have been challenging and at times infuriating. Progress has been stop-start, devolution has repeatedly given way to direct rule or government without ministers. But progress has been undeniable.
Belfast is a city transformed. The Northern Ireland economy has grown by more than a quarter in real-terms. Violence and intimidation, though not fully eradicated, has given way to politics and the principle of consent. But the story isn’t over.
The Good Friday Agreement was a marvel, heralded the world over as a blueprint for how to resolve seemingly intractable conflicts. But it’s not a magic wand. It required compromise and imaginative solutions then, just as it needs them now.
In the comment pages, Ayesha Hazarika reveals she was shocked by Labour’s attack advert with what she calls its inadvertent racial subtext.
Anne McElvoy says the SNP is learning exactly where arrogance and leadership cults lead.
Homes & Property Editor Prudence Ivey suggests that soaring house prices have led buyers to shake off some their postcode prejudice. While John Darlington notes that geography, consistency, diversity, creativity and tolerance are the keys to London’s success – but warns only the former is guaranteed.
And finally, Josh Barrie remains undefeated in his ‘dishes that can do one’ series. In this week’s firing line, the novelty burger – more a circus than a pleasurable dining experience.
