Trust and Truss
Although it always seemed strange to have the foreign secretary in charge of Northern Ireland’s place in the Union, it has distinct advantages.
Yesterday Ms Truss had to stand up in parliament and declare that she was willing to tear up a treaty her boss negotiated and lied about. I thought that the former remain supported must have died a little inside while doing that, maybe not, I know I would have.
But then that is the price of the being a convert to a cause you once fought against.
You have to swallow everything you once despised; hook, line and sinker. Then you have to prove your loyalty again and again and still no one from either side ever fully trusts you again.
As my mother used to say, converts are the worst. That need to be an ultra all the time is relentless and still you can never do enough to expunge your past.
Also Liz Truss can never get off this merry-go-round and declare she was wrong or held hostage or has finally seen the light.
The Brexiteers will say she was always a doubter, a traitor, an enemy within, the betrayer of Brexit. Remainers despise her.
Still, as I said, having the foreign secretary do this has advantages. Because she is the one who has to try to cut deals, negotiate treaties, persuade allies, dissuade enemies and form alliances.
And everywhere she goes her very polite, diplomatic, charming hosts will leave hanging in the air the unspoken questions.
“Why shouldn’t we break international law, the UK did?”
“Why should we keep our word, the UK didn’t?”
“Why should we abide by this treaty, the UK didn’t?”
“Why should we trust you, Ms Truss?”
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.