They keep claiming they are legally obliged to call an election, and then changing the law when their bluff is called!

Nowhere is Direct Rule mentioned in the GFA. Theoretically the Irish Government could take the UK government to court for failing to implement the GFA in full.

In practice, suspensions of the Executive (but not the Assembly) have been forced by SF as well.
The Irish elite are terrified of having to take on direct responsibility for governing the northern shitfest, and so are more than happy for the UK to institute direct rule - until such time as the UK government does something they don't like - e.g. ending prosecutions for murders committed by the security forces.

I find it utterly remarkable that the UK government has been prepared to take on all the costs and crap of governing the place for so long. Hoist on their own petard of imperial delusion.

The DUP got 20% of the vote last time out, and yet are allowed to hold everybody else to ransom. It has to end, and probably will in a big bang. Best not to be there with it all explodes...

Index of Frank's Diaries