Changed Times
| 12:35 UK time, Thursday, 5 August 2010
Sixteen years after the IRA ceasefire, Ian Paisley Junior can go to west Belfast and "Talk Back" without too much controversy. The most biting exchange of last evening's debate was possibly one between the DUP MP and a member of the audience. The man wanted to know why there were hot-house negotiations to deliver policing and justice devolution but none on what he regarded as far more critical: education.
At one point, Mr Paisley Jnr said he wasn't taking any lectures - while the inquisitor suggested he was quick to give them.
The DUP MP and Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff didn't agree on everything but it was awfully good natured.
As for Fintan O'Toole, one of Sinn Fein's sharpest Dublin-based critics, even he suggested the party now had the chance to form a left-wing coalition in the Republic. And the commentator hit out at what he said was the hypocrisy coming from down south, where the message had been Sinn Fein must be in government in Northern Ireland but not in Dublin.
At one point, I could see the DUP press officer signalling to Mr Paisley Junior when the Alliance MP Naomi Long was explaining her victory in East Belfast. He seemed to want the DUP to hit back hard, as Ms Long was saying her win at Westminster was down to a positive campaign.
But even that didn't lead to a spat.
As for Mr Paisley Junior, he left having signed one or two autographs.
I'm 
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