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Croake Mark

• Mark Devenport
• 26 Feb 07, 12:55 PM

Just back from the SDLP manifesto launch where an extremely hoarse Mark Durkan was still suffering from a bit too much vocal exercise during the Ireland England rugby match on Saturday. He quipped before battling through his prepared speech that it was a case of Croak Mark following Croke Park.

Aside from the predictable assault on the DUP and Sinn Fein as "suspension parties", there were a few ideas which captured the imagination - doing away with A levels, teaching modern languages in primary schools, and redistributing criminal assets to victims. Probably the most interesting was the revenue regulator who would police and potentially cap the rates and charges imposed by a future Executive and Assembly. It seems attractive at a time when the voters are concerned about big bills, but I wonder how likely it is that, say, Peter Robinson as a future finance minister will give an unelected appointee the power to cap his revenue raising ability?

As an Englishman I am seriously considering proposing the appointment of a new independent rugby regulator who could step in and cap Six Nation scores when they get too embarrassing.