SOMETIMES you have to pinch yourself to see if the north is in some kind of parallel universe. Unfortunately, it usually is.

I thought I imagined that the newish Secretary of State, Chris Bryant, took a peevish quip on X at Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald over her announcement of the miserly £63 energy support for households here. Then it turned out to be true.

Of course, the extra money has come from the Treasury. Most of the dosh in the north comes from there, as tax receipts here only cover 60% of the outgoings.

Is any region in the UK self-financing or expected to be? No. And Labour would soon get short shift in their heartlands if Wales, the Red Wall constituencies, or the West Midlands were asked to.

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Perhaps Mr Bryant believes the Executive should doff their hats towards him, like grateful serfs?

Maybe it was as the Finance Minister said: mischief-making.

The Secretary of State is now in a senior cabinet position and in a post which requires sensitivity and deftness. His attempts at humour or jibes may not survive the journey from Rhondda to the Roe Valley.

It would be better if Bryant desisted from extensively tweeting – something he excelled at whilst in opposition.

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