NEW Labour's (with the emphasis on new) victory in Britain will affect us in several ways. It means a more Euro-friendly government in Westminster, a source of great joy to Brussels less wrangling and fewer delays as the great European Union marches forward, ever deeper, ever wider. Even if Tony Blair and his new cabinet decide not to join EMU we will still benefit, whether we're in or out. The new government will accept Pee Flynn's social chapter, on which the outgoing Conservatives got a derogation, and probably the employment chapter too.
That's the wider angle. Meanwhile, although the British Labour record on Northern Ireland is far from good, the change in government after 18 years is an opportunity to break the deadlock on the peace process. The process ran aground after the end of the cease-fire and, despite all he did, John Major, dependent as he was on Ulster Unionist votes, could not. or chose not to, do anything more. Britain's Eurosceptics tend to be unionist, so a reduction in their ranks should also help progress. No great initiative is expected from London for several weeks, but by the time the Northern talks resume on June 3rd Dublin hopes a sense of engagement and a will to progress will be evident.
The Taoiseach John Bruton will address the Oxford Union on Wednesday night and on Thursday he will call to Downing Street for an exchange of views with the prime minister. Arrangements were finalised only yesterday, as protocol dictated a wait until it was known who the incumbent would be. There has already been considerable contact between Dublin and Tony Blair but Thursday's meeting, with Europe and the North as main items for discussion, will not be a summit and no communique is due afterwards.
Finally, there is no fear whatsoever of the "looney left" taking control at Westminster. The view in Dublin is that New Labour is to the right of every party in Leinster House.