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The departments the party picks when Stormont is restored will tell us how much harmonisation matters to it

EFFORTS by the British government and the unionist parties to stymie the conversation on future constitutional change have actually brought a greater focus on the growing momentum around the upcoming unity referendum. The criticism of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar by the British Secretary of State and a range of unionist voices for daring to suggest that a united Ireland will happen in his lifetime is the latest example of unionist and Tory efforts to delegitimise the goal of Irish unity.

As on all election nights, 28 May was a night of contrasting moods between the different party headquarters. There was joy at EH Bildu (the left, pro-independence party*), controlled satisfaction at the PSE and PSN and mixed feelings at the PNV (the dominant moderate nationalist party which traditionally rules the Basque autonomous region).

Ghufran Warasneh was shot when attempting to stab IDF troops, and was arrested for a previous stabbing attempt.