Because of the settled circumstances at Westminster there is less attention than usual focused on this year's British party political conferences. Labour's gathering in Brighton next weekend will be the official coronation of new PM Tony Blair, while the Tories in Blackpool one week later will be a wake for lost leaders Margaret Thatcher, John Major and - unkindly -, William Hague, for Scotland where the party holds not one seat and for its 178 recently defeated MPs. Blair is expected to sweep all before him, despite the best efforts of the likes of old campaigner Tony Benn to win greater democracy. The cabinet is so united and the popularity of the government so high that many wonder if the honeymoon will ever end and when the party will stop fighting the election and start governing.
"Everything is under review so nothing is happening." said one Whitehall pundit. "Even the death of Diana helped the government in that Blair came back from a month abroad, caught the mood immediately and seemed to lead the monarchy, if not push it, towards meeting public reaction."
Ironically, the first act of the new Labour government was to bolster the monarchy. Then there was the referendum victory on devolution. The only black spot, and it is no more than a spot, is the dissent over Wales.
Between the euphoria and the despondency, the Tories accept they will be out of power for 10 years. There will be little time for Ireland, outside the inevitable fringe meetings, attended mainly by visitors from Northern Ireland itself.
Blair has the Unionists more or less where he wants them - pretty well friendless and almost talking. No one is arguing with his tactics. Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam may address the floor but even New Labour sticks to old rules and the programme is not yet finalised. There may be some criticism of her action on Drumcree as Labour members tend to be greener than the leadership but there will be little or no dissent. Progress is being seen to be made.
The Tories have even less interest than Labour in Ireland. Major devoted considerable time and effort to the problem and it didn't do them any good. Their spokesman on the North has yet to make a mark. For those who don't know, his name is Andrew Mackay.