THERE can be few households that have not felt the pain of the cost-of-living crisis in recent months.
Sky-high energy bills, fuel nearing £2 a litre and rising prices for food and other essentials have left budgets squeezed like never before, with those on lowest incomes hardest hit.
Wage increases are running hopelessly behind inflation and some businesses have had to close their doors due to surging costs.
While global forces are responsible for much of this chill wind, politicians have the power to direct help where it is needed most.
Yet while families are forced to make difficult choices about food or heating, the assembly remains mothballed with its members on full pay.
Although MLAs can still carry out constituency work, they have been unable since the May election to fulfil key duties such as passing legislation or taking part in debates.
The DUP's refusal to let the assembly sit has also prevented the formation of a power-sharing executive and the release of hundreds of millions of pounds to support beleaguered households.
Although the British government shares, superficially at least, the party's misgivings about the Northern Ireland Protocol, it has threatened to reduce MLAs' pay if the stand-off at Stormont continues.
Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has suggested he would not wait as long as predecessor Karen Bradley the last time the assembly collapsed in 2017, when it was almost two years before salaries were cut.
However, he confirmed that legislation would be required to intervene and that will clearly still take time.
MLAs are currently paid £51,500 a year – well above the Northern Ireland average – and are entitled to generous office and travel expenses and a pension package.
While it seems unfair to punish everyone when only one party is blocking progress, that is likely to be the price of the mess left by Boris Johnson and the DUP's reckless pursuit of a hard Brexit.
Despite the government pushing ahead yesterday with legislation to tear up parts of the protocol it once championed, a speedy return to Stormont by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson does not appear on the cards.
The party should beware, however. The last time the institutions were down, it was not financial penalties but pressure from the public that propelled MLAs back to work.
The current situation is simply not sustainable and with so many families struggling financially, the DUP must heed their pleas for help.
