At all costs too, I believe.
As is their prerogative I might add, but I do feel through history they have had a much bigger say in Westminster than population should dictate.
They know that when propping up Tory governments in Commons voting, they have big leverage.
This is why I say, they need to be careful where they place their trust. If not required the Tories would drop them, no problem.
If you want to go back to the foundation’s of the state it was no different. My opinion is it should never have happened and there were enough mistakes to go around from both sides of the table, but it was the influence of unionism in Northern Ireland which was supporting a coalition government at the time, with Lloyd George as Prime Minister.
George was a Liberal but Churchill was heavily involved in what happened at and after partition.
The problem for unionism now is they see the writing on the wall. They see a time where they will not hold a majority in the North and they can’t contemplate a future they like.
The GFA is democracy in action and it is protection for them that we down south have agreed to. There’s a lot down south will have to have that reality slapped across their face too, when and if the time comes.
But I do think the D in the DUP is a cheek. This from the party that espoused ‘Ulster Says No’.
When I look at Irish history objectively now, which unlike at school, I enjoy doing, I look at those that tried their best in a British system that was slanted against them. Tried their best to Democratically and peacefully make change.
People like Daniel O’Connell and Charles Stewart Parnell. To my mind these were great men.
But the British establishment admittedly with other world problems on their minds, ignored repeated Democratic votes in Ireland and in the end pandered to what was a minority on the island.
Even the drawing up of the border eventually, was done so in a way to maintain a Protestant Unionist majority.
Listen, it’s history. I’m not saying forget, but let’s forgive and get on with it. That is exactly what I believe we did when we voted for the GFA. I believe we sacrificed quite a lot in changing our constitution in the interest of peace and democracy.
Brexit as was pointed out at the time, never took into account that international agreement you had concerning one little corner of your own little union. As I say, Northern Ireland is an afterthought to any Tory government.
I know where my trust would lie if I was living in the North.
