Sometimes when people are under intense pressure, it blunts their thinking rather than sharpens it. They blunder about, insult those they meet, and almost encourage the walls of their house to collapse on top of them.
Unionism is having such a moment. Over a period of decades, their stronghold was pummeled, they shouted defiance, but it didn’t seem to help.
Let’s go back to the Iris Robiinson case. Could there have been a more demoralising blow for her husband Peter? Or Paul Berry, the chirpy little MLA who IN 1998 sang to his colleagues’ amusement “Who do you think you are fooling Mr Trimble?” , Dad’s Army style.Next thing you know he’s had allegations made against his private life (yes, Virginia, we’ll draw a veil over that) and he departed Stormont. Then there was the searing heat of the RHI scandal, with loadsapublicmoney going up in flames. Fast forward to today and the UUP are busy eviscerating each other. Mike Nesbitt as health minister wants to do a rational overhaul of the NHS; alas, that’d mean some downgrading for the Causeway Hospital, which happens to be in UUP leader Jon Borrows constituency. Blows are exchanged, and Mike, a talented man, resigns his post. Jon Borrows may still be leader, but there’s an awful lot of egg on his face.
These are only incidents. The big earthquake on its way is a border referendum. It’s almost impossible to read a newspaper without encountering some reference to it. Will English nationalist Nigel Farage save them if he becomes PM? Has a coal scuttle got wings?
Sensibly, the SDLP, Alliance and Sinn Fein have been quiet on the unionist civil war. Never interrupt your opponent in the early stages of commiting hara-kiri
Very good jude
Thank you, James…
Good article- having a referendum is one thing- winning it is another…
The disinterest in the issue and the desire for it never to get off the ground is one massive obstacle in freestate land
that will have to be overcome- the current incumbents in Kildare Street and their media masters are certainly opposed to any change in the status quo- therein lies the real problem never mind what else London will continue doing to prevent it……
Points well taken, Donnacha. However, I think a point os quickly coming where FF/FG will realise that the referendum is coming and they therefore need to look like they’re filled with delight.Nov and Harris will be interesting…
I can’t even see the point anymore in a so called united Ireland to be honest. We’ll just be going from a British controlled state to a EU controlled state. It’s hardly what you would call a free, independent Ireland, is it?
That’s not to mention how unbearably woke Ireland is at the moment. We’re stuck between a rock and hard place as far as I’m concerned.
To Surveyor’s point, I know what you mean regarding the EU but maybe the new Ireland would actually rewrite it’s relationship with Brussels? SF used to rail against the EU. The large unionist population in the north would have a huge say, much more so than it’s current pin prick numbers sitting in London? I hate the word woke but I agree with your general sentiment.