I was reminded in recent days of the Oliver Cromwell quote to the Rump Parliament: “You have sat too long for any good that you have been doing lately. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you; in the name of God, go.”

That’s what Gavin Robinson should have told his attention-seeking Upper Bann MP, who appears more and more delirious on the faux adoration from fringe loyalists and ageing Orangemen determined to take the whole of the north to hell in a handcart.

Lockhart’s role is less that of self-projected Joan of Arc and more like the chief member of ‘les tricoteuses’ sitting at the foot of the guillotine.

Instead of mature reflection, the DUP leader opted for what he calls “profound consequences” by blocking Michelle O’Neill from acting in a solo capacity as First Minister.

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In doing this he is throwing some red meat to his backwoods brigade lest they jump to their spiritual home in the TUV.

Robinson should open the door for those who cannot live with power-sharing and come to an arrangement with the Ulster Unionists. Power-sharing is not going anywhere, despite the gnarls from North Antrim or Upper Bann.

Despite both Sinn Féin and the DUP herding the electorate like sheep for the past 15 years to pursue the mythical position of top dog in the Executive, the whole debacle has laid bare the mirage of a First and Deputy First Minister. They are........

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