I'm reminded of the newly invited MP arriving in Westminster and being shown the chamber by an older MP who was mentoring him. They looked across at the other benches and the young MP said, "Oh, yes, that's where the enemy sit." The older MP shook his head. "No, that's where Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition sit." He turned round and pointed at the Government benches. "Back up there, that's where you'll find the enemy."

The most extraordinary example of which is the Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness apparently being referred to as "the chuckle brothers" in Stormont, because they were always laughing at each other's jokes.