Looking to the future in Armagh
When I arrived in Armagh for today's DUP conference I thought I'd got the wrong weekend. Heading into the City Hotel, I drove past a sign advertising a "Fortune Tellers Conference" due to take place later this month. If I'd waited for that event I could tell you with certainty how long the Stormont deadlock would last instead of just analysing the possibilities.
Another sign informed me that "hypnosis is the answer". Unfortunately it did not illuminate me as to what the question might be.
I'm currently camped at the back of the conference hall, listening to Michelle McIlveen talking about literacy and numeracy in our schools. She followed Mervyn Storey, who told delegates that he was walking in the footsteps of Sammy Wilson as education spokesman, which he acknowledged was a hard task. Sammy was at the conference last night, but is missing this morning because the RIR are being honoured in Larne. The question is not who steps into Sammy's shoes as education spokesman but who tries to take on his role as DUP Conference Court Jester? So far the position appears vacant.
I'm 
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