The DUP is tearing itself apart

Late last night, the UK government and Sinn Fein went over the heads of the DUP and agreed on a solution to the thorny issue of Irish language legislation. The Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis promised to step in and pass the legislation if Stormont fails to do so. An ultimatum has now been given to make good on the January 2020 New Decade, New Approach deal — the agreement that promised the language laws in the first place and which was central to the return of power-sharing.

In theory, this rouse would have allowed the DUP to formally nominate Paul Givan as Arlene Foster’s replacement as First Minister with republican approval, avoiding the collapse of the institutions and a snap election.

In reality, however, this has caused a profound crisis. This owes largely to two major unionist concerns. The first contention is that the government saw fit, once again, to bilaterally engage with Sinn Fein.