Why give minor party such a major role?

TEN years ago, if people were polled and asked ‘which group of extremists are unrepresentative of the will of the majority of people, yet remain as a dominant force in shaping political policies’, it’s likely most would have replied: ‘The Provisional IRA?’

If the same question was asked today, many might answer: ‘The PDs’.

One poll published last month showed support for the PDs as low as 1%. In spite of this, the party’s elected few continue to hold some of the highest positions in government.