I've just been catching up with the fudge on Northern Ireland that looks set to save the Brexit negotiations - but at what price? My first reaction was that it would bring down the Tory government because the DUP would withdraw support, but it looks like what we're actually moving towards is a situation where the EU and Ireland insist that a special status has been agreed for Northern Ireland, while the DUP insist the deal doesn't mean any such thing. Or to put it another way, the DUP have seemingly decided to "explain" a sellout to their own voters, rather than oppose it. I'm not sure that's sustainable, but if the DUP leadership do try to hold the line, they could quickly find themselves facing the same fate as David Trimble and Reg Empey.
And what of Scotland? It seems to me there is one answer, and one answer only, to the question of why Scotland can't have the same deal as Northern Ireland. That answer is "because it would create a border on the island of Great Britain". But the moment the Tories actually say that out loud, the unionist population of Northern Ireland will hear the message loud and clear that a border is being created between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the DUP leadership will be toast.
There are two political parties that are suddenly in a pickle today - and the SNP isn't one of them.
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