THINGS move so quickly these days that, for all I know, Andy Burnham is currently standing outside Downing Street talking about a brave new era in British politics.

Not quoting St Francis of Assisi, as Margaret Thatcher did (remember her? Of course you do), but spouting similar sentiments about healing division, bringing the country together, getting Britain back on track.

One thing you can be certain of, however, is that there will be no mention of Northern Ireland and what his administration might do to put an end to this zombie statelet.

The north has not been on No 10’s radar for some time now, and there’s not much chance of that changing.

Máiría Cahill: ‘I’ve known my fair share of child abusers. I should have spotted the signs with Jeffrey Donaldson. I did not’

Brian Feeney: Jeffrey Donaldson’s career was built on lies

The tone was set as far back as Gordon Brown’s premiership. But to be honest, it was ever thus.

John Major and Tony Blair were exceptions to the rule that British prime ministers don’t give a monkey’s about the north.

Keir Starmer certainly didn’t. Such was his contempt for the place that he sent Hilary Benn across as secretary of state.

With Starmer........

© The Irish News