Political apathy could be the North’s undoing

A low turnout in the Northern elections may well see the same entrenched political parties returned to Stormont with a period of direct rule from Westminster a strong possibility

Martin McGuinness announced last week that he wouldn’t be contesting the next elections for the Northern Assembly due to serious health issues Picture: PA
DUP leader Arlene Foster speaks to the media with Nigel Dodds at Stormont Pic: Pacemaker

His health problems made it inevitable, but Martin McGuinness’s retirement from frontline politics last week was still a seismic event. The tributes poured in with Ian Paisley jr’s heartfelt tribute to the Sinn Féin stalwart for having “saved lives” being among the most noteworthy.

Even DUP leader Arlene Foster was able to muster some praise, hailing McGuinness as a “major ...