Bizarre Administration

The observation of an apparent row - or spat - between Messrs Robinson and McGuinness, First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, seems bizarre from 2,400 miles away, though unsurprising given what must be the most complicated, rigged system of government in the western world.

Such is the nature of Northern Ireland and the 'divided society' John Hume always liked to refer to. To coin another memorable phrase - this time from Sir Winston Churchill - "jaw-jaw is better than war-war", or words to that effect.