Arsing About

It's not often that a politician manages to sum up perfectly a situation, but hats off to Reg Empey. The Ulster Unionist leader, speaking at the Tory conference, commented that Sinn Féin are saying "no Executive" until policing and justice is sorted at a time when the Executive could be dealing with the fuel poverty issue. He added that a package was on the table from Margaret Ritchie to help people with fuel this winter, but "we’re arsing about on an argument that means nothing to people in the short term. It's a shame and disgrace."

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Policing and Justice certainly matters, but until it's sorted there is other important business that needs dealing with. With winter approaching, it's about time some of our politicians got their priorities straight. This isn't a zero-sum game- progress needs to take place on the devolution of policing and justice, but that doesn't mean everything else has to come to a standstill in the meantime.