‘COLUMIKE’ doesn’t quite have the same ring as ‘Marlene’, the portmanteau employed pejoratively to represent Stormont’s two figureheads.
The former sounds a little awkward, though in that regard it accurately reflects the nature of the relationship being forged by Mike Nesbitt and Colum Eastwood.
They are entering uncharted territory, hoping there’s enough in common to establish a ‘middle ground’.
In some ways their quest mirrors that of the executive, whose approach is to manage difference rather than resolve it.
Mike Nesbitt is enthusiastic about an expedient alliance with nationalism and it seems he has little difficulty selling the idea to his party, who gave Mr Eastwood’s speech a polite if not rapturous standing ovation.
The former news anchorman looks to have jettisoned the ultra-unionist persona that after the Belfast City Council flag vote suggested there was a ‘chip, chip, chipping away’ of British culture.
That said, he has refused to rule out a future electoral pact with the DUP.
However, he is much less gung-ho these days, more slender and more assured as leader, bringing greater cohesion to the party.
His speech was typically polished, though it included a slip later highlighted on Twitter by the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly.
Yet the assembly elections were far from a success and require a generous application of gloss when cited in the leader’s speech.
Nonetheless, he has seized the initiative for now and appears to be moving his party in the right direction.
The SDLP leader must be hoping he can enjoy a similar fillip if they pool their resources on Stormont's opposition benches.
But a potential flaw in the new middle ground bromance comes in the form of Brexit, where both parties acknowledge there are differences.
Despite the protestations of its old guard, the UUP was in favour of remaining in the EU and you still get the sense that’s what the party wants.
However, because it is inherently unionist it must acquiesce to the wishes of the UK as a whole, all the time knowing how damaging that will be.
It’s not an issue that’s going to go away any time soon and in the same manner it will dog the executive parties, the opposition too can expect Brexit to cause a rift.
