Wednesday 19 February 2020

Over half the population of NI would vote for reunification.

As a new poll shows just over half of people in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification if there were a border poll tomorrow there must be a serious move to accomonate those who oppose it.

The poll, published by Lord Ashcroft, shows that 45% of those surveyed said they would vote to stay in the UK, while 46% said they would choose to leave and join the Republic of Ireland. 
This breaks down to 51% to 49% for unification when don’t knows and those who say they would not vote are excluded.
“This is in fact a statistical tie, and well within the margin of error,” Lord Ashcroft said in his analysis of the results.
“Such a result might also reflect the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding Brexit, the Irish border and its potential effect on life in the province, which could recede when the outcome is settled,” he said.
“Be that as it may, the result underlines what could be at stake in the quest for a workable Brexit solution on the island of Ireland.”
Lord Ashcroft is a businessman and politician. Since the 2010 election, he has conducted independent public polls relating to British political opinions.
1,542 adults in Northern Ireland were interviewed online between 30 August and 2 September for his latest poll on Irish unification. 

Such is the diversions in the six counties  however that many Unionists will not only reject "The will of the people " but will resort to violence to achieve it.

We do not want a new version of the "Troubles" in which we see Dublin sending its soldiers to patrol the streets of Belfast.

I have ofyen pondered if a truly democratic progressive and non sectarian Unionists party applied to the European Free Aliance as a Ulster Party see seeking some form of  autonomy either from the British State or the Irish Republic would they be admitted.

The late Welsh Historian  John (Bwlch-llan) would sometimes tease his Irish  contemporaries by pointing out that because Ireland was an Island , it was no reason for it to be united.

The Problem in Northern Ireland, Ulster, Six Counties (the name often defines where you stand) , is that many  rather than want autonomy want to be part of another country, which itself is likely to see huge constitutional changes and even ceasing to survive as a Union.

If Ireland is united (and I support it) , then it should be as a nation that devolves power not only to Ulster , but its other historic counties.

The Northern Ireland Assembly should exit as it does now under the constitution of the Irish Republic.

Even now we seem to see the old sectarian divisions  crumble and it may be that the DUP 's  resistance to Irish language equality will be the swan song of Ulster Unionism.

In both the UK and in Ireland major change is on the way those on all sides must do thier best to see it happens democratically and peacefully.




 

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