UUP leader-in-waiting Jon Burrows has said Stormont needs a “far better” opposition with “a shadow cabinet-type set-up”, and he will “reflect” on taking his party into it.

That implies any unionist unity or cooperation would be confined to Westminster.

It also raises the interesting mechanics of Stormont opposition, which have scarcely been put to the test.

The titles of leader and deputy leader of the opposition go to its first and second largest parties, with no cross-community requirement, so if Alliance joined it would almost certainly share those titles with a unionist or a nationalist party alone.

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To qualify for official opposition a party must have at least eight seats, the SDLP’s current tally, so it as at risk of dropping out entirely and becoming a mere backbench presence, like the TUV or People Before Profit.

In short, UUP participation does not guarantee a balanced counterpart to the Executive.

Burrows has no intention of joining the opposition until after the next election but if he changes his mind, the timing is tight.

The UUP holds its leadership election on January 31. Parties have two years after an Executive is formed to join the official opposition, as opposed to simply leaving. That period expires on February 3.

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A US multinational cancelled plans to create 300 jobs in Belfast due to “political statements” and “public commentary” by Sinn Féin and its economy minister, Caoimhe Archibald, a Stormont committee has heard.

The claim was put to Archibald by DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, who was presumed to be referring to Israel and Gaza. Archibald avoided the question.

There are various reasons why financial services firm Kantor Fitzgerald may have suddenly withdrawn its investment at a meeting last March.

Sinn Féin’s politics is among them, but it seems unfair to blame Archibald, whose worst offence as a minister has been to say nothing when she cannot say anything positive.

She has even been diplomatic about defence projects,........

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