Northern Ireland’s return to democracy is the silver lining in a black cloud election.

Voters fed up with political deadlock gave the two main parties a kicking in the ballot box.

Support for Sinn Fein and the so-called Democratic Unionist Party fell, bringing the moderate SDLP and non-sectarian Alliance to ­Westminster.

The DUP lost two MPs, including Nigel Dodds, its mournful parliamentary leader, who always looks as if he’s lost a shilling and found sixpence.

The message finally got through to the obstinate big players in Ulster, and devolved government has resumed three years after the collapse of Stormont.

Hallelujah! As the late Dr Ian Paisley would have said. And not before time.

The NHS there is in even bigger crisis, education is in dire straits, the welfare system is a mess and more police are needed.

Naturally, the restoration of democracy comes at a hefty price. These things always do in Northern Ireland. The bill for the taxpayer this time is reportedly an eye-watering £2billion, promised by Boris Johnson to First Minister Arlene Foster.

Stormont’s big spenders say it’s not enough. It never is.

And what happened to the £1billion bung handed to “Snarlene” in 2017 by Theresa May to buy DUP support for her minority Conservative government?

Disappeared into the bogs of Ballynahone no doubt, like previous handouts.

By the way, I say “so-called” DUP because, with 30% popular support in Ulster, Paisley’s parliamentary apostles rejected the 56% Remain referendum vote in the province and fought for a no-deal Brexit.

Putting them back in their box is another election plus – Slan Abhaile! as I believe they say in the republic.

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