“The key for all political leaders is that we are reflective of that society and that we can come to accommodate, regardless of people’s religious views and political persuasions, that they feel comfortable in this place that we call home.” – Philip Brett, DUP MLA
Translation: We in the DUP have always liked having happy Catholics about the place
“The growth of Alliance in the last election is testament to the fact that religion doesn’t necessarily determine political opinion”. – Nuala McAllister, Alliance Party MLA
Translation: More and more people are caring less and less about Ireland’s partition
“Our initial assessment is that the evidence vindicates the stance taken by the Ulster Unionist Party since 1998, recognising that we need to build a Northern Ireland in which everyone has a stake and can see a future for themselves and their families.” – Mike Nesbit UUP MLA
Translation: Please don’t mention the fifty years when we discriminated, gerrymandered, strutted, interned.
“It is the challenge of this generation to forge a new future”. – Colum Eastwood MP
Translation: Phew- I damn near missed the UI bus!
“Those who make a read across from the Catholic population to support for Irish unity demonstrate for them just how sectarian that project is”. – Jim Alister, TUV MLA
Translation: When we set up the stateen in 1921, we gave absolutely no thought to the religious make-up of the population
Saw someone say on Fawlty’s Slugger O’Tool website that the reason there are more Catholics is that Catholics say they are Catholics even when they’re not so as to annoy their Protestant neighbours!