New government in Northern Ireland needed Saint Brendan not Storm Brendan
After three years of deadlock, there is relief to have some kind of government again - but no one is popping champagne corks.
Monday 13 January 2020 19:52, UK
It was heavy on charm - the prime minister likes to call reporters by their first name - but his press conference was light on detail.
Anyone hoping for facts and figures from Boris Johnson during his visit to Belfast was left bitterly disappointed.
How much cash has his government committed to the new power-sharing administration to address the crises in public services? No substantive answer.
Why does he keep saying there will be no checks between Northern Ireland and GB after Brexit when the Withdrawal Agreement states otherwise? No substantive answer.
How can he keep his manifesto pledge to halt historical prosecution of veterans who served during the Troubles when that won't be his call? No substantive answer.
The prime minister described a question from the Belfast Telegraph newspaper as "unfair" but it was entirely justified. "Was this visit just a publicity stunt?"
Irish PM Leo Varadkar had more reason than his British counterpart to seek some of the reflective glory from the breakthrough - he is poised to call a snap election.
But Mr Varadkar was much more honest about the challenges that lie ahead for the new five party coalition at Stormont.
It is understandable that both premiers would want to mark this "wonderful compromise", as Boris Johnson put it, but the people of Northern Ireland are reserving judgement.
After three years of deadlock and frustration, they are relieved to have some kind of government again but no one is popping the champagne corks.
That didn't stop the prime minister attempting to create a sense of occasion by borrowing a quote from one of his predecessors.
In the final days of talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement, Tony Blair famously said: "This isn't a time for sound bites... but I feel the hand of history on my shoulder."
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Boris Johnson said: "Never mind the hand of history on my shoulder, I see the hand of... the future."
He brought the torrential rain and strong wind with him - the prime minister's visit coinciding with Storm Brendan but the power-sharing coalition needed Saint Brendan instead.
He is the patron saint of navigation and the new government in Northern Ireland's is still seeking directions to the Treasury.