It was perhaps hardly worth while to notice a statement so silly as that the Ulster leader had been ready a few weeks previously to betray Ulster in order to save the House of Lords, but Carson did not yet realise the degree to which he had already won the confidence of his followers; moreover, the incident proved useful as an opportunity of emphasising the uninterrupted mutual confidence between Lord Londonderry and himself, in spite of their divergence of opinion over the Parliament Bill.

It also gave those present a glimpse of their leader's power of shrivelling meanness with a few caustic drops of scorn.
The proceedings at Craigavon and at the Conference naturally created a sensation on both sides of the Channel.

They brought the question of Ireland once more, for the first time since 1895, into the forefront of British politics.

The House of Commons might spend the autumn ploughing its way through the intricacies of the National Insurance Bill, but everyone knew that the last and bitterest battle against Home Rule was now approaching.

And, now that the Parliament Act was safely on the Statute-book, Ministers had no further interest in concealment.