Edwin Poots and Boris Johnson are a dreary prospect – but Dublin holds more aces than you think

Top man: Edwin Poots, the new DUP leader, appears hostile to the Republic - but it may not be all bad news. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne

John Downing

Edwin Poots appears hostile and Boris Johnson looks indifferent on a good day. So what now for British-Irish and North-South relations in a ­pivotal year ahead?