An interesting, and telling, line from Jonathan Powell’s article on why we should not over-react to the latest outbreak of Republican violence in Northern Ireland:
Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were determined to carry the Republican movement into peace as intact as possible. They moved slowly to avoid the traditional split and lost very few volunteers along the way. Unusually, the British government agreed with this approach. Instead of trying to encourage divisions, as in the past, we hoped they would carry the movement with them because we wanted to make peace once, not many times with many different groups. And we wanted to ensure that a capable and credible terrorist movement was not left behind. The establishment of a new executive by the DUP and Sinn Féin in May 2007 delivered that outcome.
From this one could be forgiven for thinking that the government saw Sinn Fein as the ultimate destination for the “peace process” rather than a confirmation of its failures.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in