Later that day, DUP leader Arlene Foster put on a show of unity for the cameras, conspicuously flanked by a variety of colleagues. There is rarely this much focus on the DUP’s internal machinations, in contrast with the Kremlinology devoted to Sinn Féin. Ironically, Sinn Féin is largely responsible for the idea of a DUP divide. After last June’s Tory-unionist pact at Westminster, Sinn Féin began pushing a tale of hardline DUP MPs seizing the initiative from relatively moderate DUP assembly members – including Foster. The public was moved by Paisley’s words but he was also clearly rebuking Foster for mishandling Sinn Féin at Stormont.

Source: The Irish Times February 15, 2018 04:52 UTC