pwrmoore wrote:Am I the only one to be concerned that (if Bell's account is correct) the elected ministers are actually accountable to the unelected DUP special advisors and not the other way around. And let's face it if it's like that in the DUP the other parties with ministers probably have similar arrangements
That is how I understand it too and whilst we all think of the elected representatives as "in charge" thank god they aren't, for in reality many, especially in NI, they tend to be loud mouthed bully boys rather than people of intellect, though of course not exclusively.
I have a long time friend who was in high position within a large NI business who had to deal with Gregory Campbell in connection with transport. They met on a regular basis and my friend could not get over the fact that here was essentially a buffoon who couldn't understand much of what was being said and constantly had to quiz his advisors to get any grip on matters of substance.
I think it's also fair to say that in most parties there are heavy hitters in the background who have as their main issue control of the party and what the public faces say and are allowed to say. That appears absolutely the case in the DUP. Based on Bell's account, assuming he is telling the truth.