Norn Irn

Do you know what's happening in politics in Northern Ireland? I kind of have an idea. I used to work in an area of Scotland that had close links with Northern Ireland and I take an interest, but I have to say if I was depending on the media to tell me what I need to know I'd be lost. I read a newspaper in printed form, follow a couple of other papers online and watch C4 news fairly regularly so I can sort of piece together what's going on. I know Martin McGuiness has stepped down as depute First Minister and Arlene Foster has got caught up in a huge financial scandal over - what? - a heating deal? On Thursday, there was a 'snap election' but I'm not entirely sure what the fall-out from that election will be.

And yet, this is one of the main communities of the United Kingdom. As is often the case these days, we only hear about Northern Ireland (or Wales or Scotland or any area of England north of Watford Gap) when there's an election or a major disaster. You think I'm exaggerating? Watch BBC or ITV news and keep a tally of (1) stories from outside London and the south-east area and (2) the number of times reporters actually get off their arse and report from areas outside London and the south-east area.

Northern Ireland is important. It always has been to some of us, not that you could tell that from what happens in Westminster or in the media. Apart from the problem that a good proportion of the population is still suffering the trauma of The Troubles, even if they weren't directly involved, and live in dread that it will all start up again, this is the front line of the UK's frankly insane decision to remove itself from the European Union: is there to be a hard or soft Brexit? I imagine few people in Northern Ireland care, but I suppose they care about the idea that border posts, lines of barbed wire and customs officials will be installed along a border with Eire that we know is basically full of holes - and all the cross-border nonsense will start up again.

The uncertainty of what will happen during and after Brexit is doing the United Kingdom no good at all. Do you have faith that the Conservative government will go in and negotiate a good deal to leave the EU? Do you have any idea when that will take place? Do you have any confidence in how they plan to protect industries that are of major importance to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - like farming and fishing? Is anyone in the Tory party even trying to reassure us?

I'll leave you to answer that on your own. Given the election results in Northern Ireland, it's pretty clear what people think there.