If there had not been a world pandemic, where would Arlene Foster have spent today, St Patrick’s Day? No, not down on the farm checking out the Spring lambs. Not at a meet-up with Sammy Wilson so she could tell him how much she admires him. She would have been in Washington DC, along with Michelle O’Neill.
It’s understandable that Michelle O’Neill would have made the trip, shamrock on bosom and smiling President Biden half to death. And sure why wouldn’t she? Isn’t today the great annual day for the Irish, and isn’t Michelle as Irish as a glass of poitin?
Now. Is Arlene Irish? Sammy Wilson is on the record as saying that there isn’t a drop of Irish blood in his body. (No, Virginia, I can’t tell you how many people have rushed forward and offered to check out that theory for him.) So would Arlene see herself as equally devoid of Irish blood?
I suspect not. I suspect Arlene would, at a pinch, concede that she is this new creature, Northern Irish. Would she have made this point to Joe Biden? Geddoutahere. No chance. She would have smiled and joined in the celebrations as if her veins were pumping 100% Irish. She wouldn’t have said it, of course, but she’d have acted as if she was Irish to her toe-tips.
Then why this reluctance to reveal her inner Irishwoman? Probably because she thinks it would suggest she’s weakening her identification as being British.
Which doesn’t make sense. There are lots of unionists in Scotland – Scottish people opposed to holding an independence referendum in Scotland, let alone supporting independence for Scotland. Really really British people. But these same people are also really really Scottish at the same time.
So if Arlene was a sensible woman – and I suspect behind all the bluster there is a sensible Arlene – and brave enough, she would tell the world that she was proud to be British AND Irish.
It would be a very smart move. It would evoke the admiration of all unionists – our leader is British, hooray – but at the same time make it clear you can simultaneously be Irish. Believe me, Arlene, there are God only knows how many people here – the entire Alliance party for one – who would do a MeToo on that one. Maybe even quite a few SDLP people – you know, the ones who are comfortable with the British architecture of life here in the north. In short, going for the really really British and really really Irish thing could well consolidate the union with Britain in a way that nothing else could.
I’m offering this get-out-of-jail card to Arlene, and I won’t even charge her. For why? Because I know that Arlene will never, never, never, never face a microphone and say, after she’s said “I am British!” the words “I am Irish.” The DUP and its leader have allowed their anti-Irishness to take away the key, the only key, that would get them out of the terminal prison they have built and locked themselves in.
So listen to me, Arlene. When there is a border poll, and when nationalists/republicans win a majority of votes for Irish reunification, don’t come whingeing to me, saying you don’t like the result. I’ve told you how to avoid it; but I do so confident that DUP political arteries have hardened so much over the years, they can’t bring themselves to do the one thing that would give them a life-saving injection.
Oh well. Maybe you’ll have a change of heart by next Paddy’s Day, Arlene. Assuming you’re still DUP leader then, of course.
Comments are closed.