DUP leader Gavin Robinson’s response to Baroness Hallett’s latest Covid module report was predictable in a number of ways, but most revealing in one way: his attitude to the former Court of Appeal judge herself.

Predictably, he defended his own party and its role in the Executive during the pandemic. Well, he would, wouldn’t he?

The only aspect he appeared to agree with was Hallett’s conclusion that Michelle O’Neill’s attendance at Bobby Storey’s funeral “contributed to tensions” in the Executive.

Needless to say, Robinson had no comment to make on what the judge concluded was Arlene Foster’s “inappropriate instigation of cross-community votes to make political points”.

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On the contrary, he justified her behaviour, saying that calling for cross-community votes “is an important mechanism that is there to encourage people to work together”. A peerless statement of balderdash.

Anyway, so far so predictable. What was most revealing was his contention that Hallett didn’t know enough about the north to understand the power-sharing requirement for an executive.

He said: “Baroness........

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