There’s a saying that’s been applied here in NEI over the decades: every time unionism gets up from the table, kicking over its chair and storming off to mount a do-or-die protest, it returns to the table weaker than when it left.
This is a generalisation and like most generalisations, there are exceptions. But by and large it’s hard to deny its truth.
Think of all the big struggles down the decades. Saving Ulster From Sodomy: not so much talk about that now. Never, never, never, never: well OK, but just this time. Marching down the Garvaghy Road: despite the massed ranks of unionism, it’s a no-go. Then there’s the Anglo-Irish Agreement, there’s power-sharing, there’s sitting down with Sinn Féin. Each and every principled stand abandoned. Sad.
And it’s not done yet. Arlene Foster has spear-headed a petition titled “Trigger Article 16 – We want unfettered GB-NI Trade”. It set itself a target of 100,000 signatures and whaddyaknow, it’s reached that target.
The DUP want the abolition of checks on goods between the UK and NEI. Unfettered trade, as the petition says. But the two parties involved – the UK and the EU – don’t appear to be interested.
Ursula Von der Leyen has told Stormont assembly speaker Alex Maskey: “I can assure you that the Commission has been exploring all flexibilities available under the applicable rules of Union law and within the framework of the Protocol, in order to facilitate the implementation of the Protocol, whilst fully protecting the integrity of the Union’s single market and customs union.”
In other words, we’re happy to tweak the Protocol a bit, but it stays in place.
And here’s Michael Gove the other day: “We hope to be able to resolve all of the issues on the ground without recourse to Article 16”.
In other words, we’ll sort these impediments to GB-NEI trade, but the Protocol stays in place.
It’s hard not to feel sympathy for the DUP. Time after time they thunder and demand, and time after time they come back with less than they had when they stormed out. It’s like watching a deluded teenager approaching female after female, only to be shot down in full public view. Mortifying or what?
Stand by for a principled stand against Scottish independence and Irish reunification. That should boost the chances of success for both causes immeasurably.
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