I’ve just finished Inside Politics on BBC Radio Ulster. I must admit to never having heard of Billy Leonard before – and I wasn’t aware (until he told the potted version of his story to Mark Devenport and Radio Ulster listeners) that he had been born Protestant, waved the Union Flag for royalty, became a lay preacher, then joined the RUC, then became an SDLP Councillor, then a Sinn Fein MLA. Goodness me. And now an author.
Perhaps Billy’s book – much plugged by Devenport – will tell us a little more about the inner workings of Mr Leonard’s mind. He seemed like a nice chap. However, I suspect he has had some periods of confusion.
I think attention deficit may be the explanation for such rapid changes in political perspective – I’m just not sure. But to move so radically on the (admittedly local, single issue) political continuum could only be explained by a need to be the focus of attention – and he certainly received lots today from the BBC. I barely got a word in edgeways.
I’ll be watching with interest to see what Mr Leonard will be up to after his book launch is over and he plots his next political incarnation. Perhaps he’ll join the NI Conservatives.
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