On Monday, 3 July James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, gave an optimistic assessment of the prospects for re-establishing devolved government in the Province which has been in abeyance since the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive last January. His optimism was not well-founded.
In an oral question in the Lords on 13 July, Alistair Lexden expressed grave doubts about the likelihood of a breakthrough as result of yet more talks between the government and the Northern Ireland political parties on devolution.
Follow the link to read the Hansard report of the exchanges in the Lords… Hansard