Two Sides Of The Same Tarnished Coin

Jim Fitzpatrick has an amusing article which highlights how Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness have more in common than a shared inane propensity to giggle like schoolgirls when they come within a mile of a TV camera- it seems they may both have a rather embarrassing time as they lord it up in first class on their trip to America.

The visa waiver form, which visitors from the UK and Ireland complete to avoid having to apply for a visa, has a number of questions about the applicant's past that most of us could answer 'No' to. That's not the case with the Chuckle Brothers though.

One of the questions asks: "Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities?" Given Martin McGuinness' involvement in the IRA, his conviction in 1973 after being caught with a car containing 250lb of explosives and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition, and his declaration at his trial that: "'We have fought against the killing of our people... I am a member of Óglaigh na hÉireann and very, very proud of it," I guess his answer on the form will have to be a big, fat 'Yes'.

But Big Ian doesn't get off the hook either. Another part of the form proffers the poser: "Have you ever been denied a US visa or entry into the US or had a US visa cancelled?" Well, Paisley indeed had a US visa cancelled in 1981 because of what the US State Department called his "divisive" rhetoric. It seems he will have to put a tick in the 'Yes' column too.

Let's just hope Jeeves isn't looking over their shoulder when he's serving up the tea and hot crumpets, lest it may provoke outrage amongst their fellow luxury travellers when they realise the pedigree of their fellow passengers from Stormont...