Opinion

ANALYSIS: Unsuccessful day leaves leaders biting their lips

Secretary of State Karen Bradley greets Theresa May as she arrives at Stormont House. Picture by Mal McCann
Secretary of State Karen Bradley greets Theresa May as she arrives at Stormont House. Picture by Mal McCann Secretary of State Karen Bradley greets Theresa May as she arrives at Stormont House. Picture by Mal McCann

IT'S understood Leo Varadkar and Theresa May discussed Brexit and the border yesterday at Stormont House – which at least means their visit wasn't entirely in vain.

When word that the two premiers were due in Belfast filtered through to newsrooms on Sunday night, there was an assumption that the long-awaited deal between the DUP and Sinn Féin was ready-cooked and the taoiseach and prime minister were coming to town to give it their blessing. Otherwise why make the journey?

But even before the two leaders had arrived, sources in the DUP were cautioning that a deal had not been secured and that agreement was unlikely, if at all, until later in the week.

The London and Dublin contingents declined to speak to the media on arrival at Stormont, suggesting things weren't going entirely according to plan.

A series of meetings involving the two governments and the five parties throughout the day failed to bring matters to a conclusion and when the main players appeared for their respective late afternoon press conferences in Parliament Buildings, it was effectively 'as you were'.

The optimism didn't evaporate entirely but we were back to where we were at the end of last week – "progress has been made but outstanding issues need to be resolved".

The two premiers appeared to be biting their lips when the emerged in the darkness to separately address the media at the end of what they surely must regard as an unsuccessful day's work.

It was reminiscent of David Cameron and Enda Kenny's ignominious retreat from Belfast in 2014 having failed to get a deal between the same two parties.

Mr Vardakar and Mrs May put on brave face but the frustration was difficult to mask and it seems doubtful that they'll be back any time soon.

Given the tetchy relationship between Arlene Foster and the taoiseach, coupled with Sinn Féin's antipathy towards the Tories and Fine Gael, did they really think their presence would focus minds?

While there's still an expectation that a deal can be struck before the end of the week, yesterday's events demonstrate that no-one can take anything for granted when it comes to Stormont.