IT looks like leftward-leaning voters in Northern Ireland are going to be spoilt for choice. At its conference in Bournemouth yesterday the British Labour Party lifted a ban which had prevented Northern Ireland residents joining the party.

Most people will have found Ian Paisley’s personalised attack on Brian Cowen this week as offensive. In many ways we can’t claim to be shocked. Paisley has been known for outburst likes these for nearly four decades.

A WEEK is a long time in politics. A week is twice as long in Northern Ireland politics. The next few weeks will be particularly interesting.