I know I said that my new year’s resolution was not to write about the Executive in 2026.

Don’t worry, I’m not planning to break it, but I just wanted to mention something in passing: the latest LucidTalk poll suggests 71% think that, since it was rebooted two years ago, the Executive has either had no impact or a negative impact.

Barely a quarter think it has had a positive impact – and most of them are probably card-carrying members of the Pollyanna society.

None of this surprises me, of course. Writing in this column on January 14, I noted: “The reason I’m not planning to write about it is that there’s no point writing about it. It has no impact. None of the parties are listening.”

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I think the poll proves my point. I think it’s also delusional to imagine, hope or believe that anything is likely to change this side of the next elections (assembly and council in May 2027). Nor is it likely to change even post-elections.

What also bears out my scepticism is the poll’s ratings for the individual ministers, not one of which crosses the 50% threshold.

Even the rating for Matthew O’Toole, leader of the official opposition, is only 45%.

All of which means that both the Executive and the opposition do not have majority........

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