The Conservative leadership hustings move to Belfast next week. It will be time to choose between pragmatism and dogmatism
There are three reasons why Northern Ireland has not rated many mentions in the Conservative leadership contest so far. The first is that the standoff with the European Union over the Brexit Northern Ireland protocol is currently dwarfed by the severity of the energy price crisis. The second is that most Tory party members, who are overwhelmingly English, are not interested in Northern Ireland. The third is that Rishi Sunak does not want to let Liz Truss turn the issue into a test of Brexit zealotry that she would win.
Next week, however, the evasions will end as the leadership hustings move to Belfast. In less than a month, the new prime minister will also need to engage with Northern Ireland issues, whether they want to or not. That’s because the stalemate is damaging the Northern Ireland economy. It is also holding the power-sharing governance of Northern Ireland hostage. It is souring relations between the UK and the Irish Republic; helping, perhaps, to boost Sinn Féin in the south. And it is standing in the way of a practical post-Brexit relationship with the EU and the Biden administration.
