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The seasons are changing, the leaves turning and the days drawing in – autumn is well and truly upon us.
At such times of rapid change, it’s only natural to seek something unchanging – to act as an anchor amidst the turmoil. And, for us in Northern Ireland, we need look no further than the seemingly perennial strife at Stormont.
Northern Ireland’s two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, have been at loggerheads since the start of the year. In January, revelations about a botched renewables scheme (the Renewable Heat Incentive) brought down the Executive.
Since then, red lines have been drawn and redrawn. At first, Sinn Féin demanded that Arlene Foster step down as First Minister – now, their principal demand seems to be DUP support for an Irish Language Act.
For many nationalists and republicans, the Irish Language Act is an important symbol of their culture and parity of esteem in Northern Ireland. However, for many unionists it’s unconscionable, and would open the door to further erosions of the status quo.
As DUP leader Arlene Foster memorably said during this year’s Assembly election campaign, “if you feed a crocodile, it will keep coming back for more”.
The parties are currently in talks to see if some common ground can be found. Importantly, however, the DUP's 'concession' offer - a 'Culture Act', containing all the elements of an Irish Language Act, but also covering Ulster Scots - has been rejected by Sinn Féin.
Can an agreement be found in time? It's doubtful anyone knows – try asking Mystic Meg!
All we know is they'll need to come to an agreement soon. There's the very real possibility that Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will legislate for a Stormont budget at Westminster, following the conference season recess – a sign that we are drawing closer to Direct Rule.
Back in Westminster, the DUP-Tory deal recently came back into focus with the revelation that it would require Parliamentary approval.
Don't all supply measures need Parliamentary approval?
However, it did serve as a timely reminder of just how infrequently Northern Ireland really impacts the business of government in Westminster. This raises the question, how much of a priority are we for the ruling Conservatives?
With regard to Brexit, we present unique and difficult challenges - for which it's desperately important a solution is found. But, while HMG and the European Commission issued papers on the ‘Irish Question’, we were conspicuous by our absence from Boris' recent 4,000-word ‘manifesto’ in the Telegraph.
And while our Secretary of State will address the theme of 'Strengthening the Union Between All Our Citizens', at his party’s conference in Manchester, Northern Ireland representation is noticeably lacking in a later session on 'Building a Stronger Economy'.
All in all, the picture in Northern Ireland is as grim as our summer weather. Civil servants running the show, elected reps eschewing the blue benches of Stormont, and a somewhat detached attitude from Westminster - all at a time when great constitutional changes are afoot.
In fact, I’m really looking forward to my trip to Tory Conference next month. After the strife and dysfunction of politics at home, it’ll make a nice change to see a party truly united and working well…