Shaun Woodward used to be a Conservative MP but now he’s a millionaire Labour MP married to the daughter of a former Conservative MP. He’s the mouth-piece wheeled out to tut-tut over failed insurrections within Labour ranks. He has been Northern Ireland’s largely invisible Secretary of State since 2005. He’s visible only when he is required to try to ‘fix’ some impasse or hiatus in the “peace process”.
Married to Camilla Sainsbury, of Sainsbury supermarket fame, Shaun has a rather comfortable living. It has been said he is the only Labour MP with a butler. I’m not so sure. It has also been suggested that he and his wife have a fortune of around £15m.
What Mr Woodward does not have, however, are any discernable political principles. His intervention in the Robinson affair shows very clearly that his political focus is always on process and never on principle, emotional response or ideology. He also appears to assume, given his bizarre outburst today, that the political status quo is more important than any requirement for high standards in public office.
Mr Woodward seems to have missed that the peace process is no longer a process and is now complete. We’re now in the realm of real politics and real people – warts and all. We can dispense with the process and just focus on the peace – and the politics.
Politics can continue merrily with or without the involvement of a discredited First Minister. Peace will be broken only when those who choose to disrupt the rule of law choose to do so. The only people who can resolve “dissident” IRA violence are members of the PSNI - and people within the Republican movement who know who the terrorists are. The peace process has nothing to do with politicians who claim to accept the rule of law and the requirement for peace.
Shaun Woodward wants the “process” to continue and he appears to want Peter Robinson’s involvement. Once again Mr Woodward shows just how little he knows about real politics and the very real and palpable need for ethics and standards in public service. He is a politician that knows nothing of political principle and everything about political process.
Thankfully, however, he will be largely ignored – and soon will be replaced.
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