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Election 07

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The Codological Executive

  • Mark Devenport
  • 22 Mar 07, 05:24 PM

So we are now billionaires - thanks to Gordon and Brian chipping in 400 million each and the accountants finding another 200 million down the back of an NIO filing cabinet.

The question now is whether this is good enough for the DUP. They are due to hold a party officers meeting tonight. Then their executive is scheduled for Saturday. The DUP is working on a paper which deals with a bedding down period between next Monday and May. The idea is that the power sharing executive wouldn't meet until then.

Although the government says it's a work in progress, Peter Hain insists there will be no new emergency law. Some government sources believe the power sharing executive should meet as early as Tuesday. The DUP say that's not on.

Given that some senior DUP politicians still have no stomach for power sharing the DUP appear to need this transition. But how real will it be? The Ulster Unionists argue it is all "codology". If devolution occurs, they say, the local ministers will be ministers no matter what, and could be open to legal challenge if they don't perform their duties.

And if the Executive doesn't meet, who will put the water bills off?

From the Hain Assembly to the Transitional Assembly to the Codological Executive. Here we go again....

Raising the roof

  • Brian Taylor
  • 22 Mar 07, 01:13 PM

Confirmation, if it were needed, that local taxation will be a big issue at the Holyrood elections. Jack McConnell and Nicola Sturgeon shouted happily at each other during First Minister's questions, each cheerfully talking about different topics.

The first Minister wanted to talk, loudly, about SNP plans to replace the council tax with a 3p Local Income Tax. This, he said, was a "poll tax." Well, it's not - in that the cash you'd pay varies according to your income. But no matter. Labour think they've found a Nationalist weak spot and they want to deploy the ultimate insult.

Nicola Sturgeon offered to shout to the rooftops about her plan to scrap the "unfair" council tax. She did just that, causing a few nervous souls to glance at the chamber ceiling. It's only just been repaired, after all. She challenged the FM to produce his alternative.

Mr McConnell said it would emerge in time for the election. I understand that Labour plans an announcement, in advance of the manifesto. They'll offer to reform the council tax, probably by adding new bands at the top and bottom of the range to spread the pain of payment. Don't expect a revaluation of properties.

Annabel Goldie, meanwhile, fulminated splendidly about the court ruling which favoured a prisoner who had complained about a recorded message being placed at the start of his phone calls. It was, she said, "ridiculous". The FM plainly agreed - but contrived, just, to restrain himself from comment because the case may well go to appeal.

Earlier, it was time to bid farewell as Jim Wallace, the former leader of the Lib Dems, delivered his final parliamentary address during a debate on the Union. As customary, it was witty and erudite. Indeed, the entire debate was high-calibre - and good-humoured, as if the participants recognised it was but a dry run for the battles to come.

Who wants to be a billionaire 2

  • Mark Devenport
  • 22 Mar 07, 09:49 AM

Just about to trudge off to 11 Downing Street to see what the parties get from Gordon. On Sky TV this morning the Chancellor talked about a 拢50 billion peace package. But that was exactly what he talked about in November last year only to have the commentators decide this was almost all old money repackaged as new.

During the election the DUP defended their ambiguity towards power sharing as a clever tactic which preserved their negotiating leverage with the government. Where does that leave them if the negotiating leverage only produces the same package that was on offer in November?

Of course Gordon did not reveal his tax cut until the final minute of his budget speech so it's possible we may yet hear about a one year delay in water charges and some capital money towards the water service.

So far, though, the mood music over the dividend isn't wonderful. And that points to a fudge in which the DUP seeks some kind of transitional arrangement which won't see the Executive fully up and running until the summer. If that happens, Peter Hain may have to eat a bit of humble pie, but he did that expertly on November 24th so don't rule out him doing it again on March 26th.

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