North's choice between dependency and democracy

Talks on a deal to get the Northern Ireland assembly up and running again are due to start next month. Not everyone expects a positive outcome.

Thinktank Democratic Dialogue suggested last week that if the talks fail London and Dublin will put in place a bilateral arrangement to govern the north between themselves. It would not be the kind of joint authority that nationalists have often advocated but nor would it be the kind of direct rule that unionists would be comfortable with.

This kind of plan B might well be necessary as a fall back position to encourage Ian Paisley’s DUP to make the leap towards power-sharing with Sinn Féin.

Some nationalists might well be tempted to go further and opt for bilateral rule as the most attractive option.