In Northern Ireland it is forwards into the past with Mike Nesbitt; apparently set to be the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, again. In Westminster Starmer has made a stuttering start to his premiership, while Sunak and Farage seem to have gone AWOL as opposition.

Seems nowhere is greatly blessed with coherent leadership, which lends itself to the disaffection with politicians; not something that will be quickly reversed on present trajectories.

It has been a long wet and miserable summer, but in the words of Matt the cartoonist: "Keir Starmer was on the TV. Things will get worse before they get even worse." Labour's messaging shining through.