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Peter Robinson's comments on Ireland united at MacGill's summer school in Glenties have annoyed and thwarted various trade union currents, though more outspoken observers are sure that he tries to launch a necessary debate
. On Monday, the reaction to Robinson's remarks has shown that many trade unionists do not want debate because they fear it will create nationalistic ambitions and discourage those working to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. United.
– "I do not expect my own house to burn, but I badure it anyway because it could happen" – did not impress DUP MP East Antrim, Sammy Wilson . He replied: "Preparing a possible united Ireland is not an insurance policy against something unpleasant, it's an invitation to the Republican arsonists to come in and burn our house."
The comments were "dangerous and demoralizing," according to Wilson. "I'm not getting ready to go on the moon in Richard Branson's space shuttle because I do not intend to find myself there."
Wilson's annoyance reflected the widespread public and private political reaction of syndicalism. Reg Empey, president of the Ulster Unionist Party, accused Robinson of "becoming a Sinn Féin" chamber, while Jim Allister, leader of the traditionalist Union, said "by his rude comments that" He nourished the republican myth of the inevitability of Irish unity. Comments
Mátilín Ó Muilleoir, a member of the Sinn Féin Assembly, said that the remarks reflected the political reality that support for a united Ireland was developing in Northern Ireland and that people had to be safe. Prepare for it. 19659008] You must wake up to demographic changes, you must wake up to what may be the destabilizing impact of Brexit
The SDLP deputy head, Nichola Mallon, said that it "has always been the job of union leaders to advocate for staying in the union, just as it is mine and the work of my colleagues to build a new Ireland ".
A Shrewd Politician
Professor Peter Shirlow, a historian of trade union origin, believed that what Robinson was doing was trying to encourage trade unionists to advocate this point of view for the syndicate. He advised that Robinson be an insightful politician and that there were good reasons why his advice should be listened to.
"I think [for unionists] that what Robinson is doing is that you have to wake up to demographic changes., You have to wake up to what may be the destabilizing impact of Brexit, and you have to defend the union, "said Shirlow, who heads the Institute for Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool.
was prompted by what many felt was the lack of respect for Unionist nationalism
Unionists, as evidenced by their reaction to Glenties' speech, feared that nationalists would be encouraged to support more vigorously a border vote on a united Ireland.
According to the Belfast Agreement, North Secretary Karen Bradley polls there are indications that it would be worn. According to recent polls and the last Westminster election, there are no such indications, Shirlow said.
In last spring's election to the Assembly, Sinn Féin earned 1,168 votes and one seat less than the 28-seat DUP. The result of the elections alarmed and galvanized unionism so that in the Westminster summer In 1965, the DUP returned to over 53,000 votes ahead of Sinn Fein
. Protestant households, while those of Catholic households accounted for 45 percent (810,000) – a Protestant majority of 54,000.
But far more Catholics than Protestants in primary, secondary and tertiary education in the North, the demographic trend indicates a possible Catholic majority that could occur in a generation or even a shorter period
. than to be in a united Ireland so what is this argument?
Robinson, in his later years as prime minister and leader of the DUP, was, according to Shirlow, very aware of this change and was attempting accordingly to make a reconciliation with nationalism that would have the advantage to strengthen the union.
Shirlow said what Robinson understands, but many unionists do not do it, it's that with regard to the future of the union, the most important group in Northern Ireland are the Catholics of the middle clbad. This is the group that can be persuaded for material reasons, such as the economy and the UK National Health Service, to stick to the union rather than opting for an Ireland united in a Border survey. But insulting Catholics or denigrating a language and culture will only push such people into the camp of Ireland.
Shirlow sees Robinson's comments as a kind of "awakening" of unionism: "No matter what you think of Robinson, he's a shrewd person and I think he understands demographics, and I think he understands the diversity in Northern Ireland., and I think he understands that Northern Ireland can be saved, that it can continue for a while. " I think what he says is a traditional type of unionism that will not save the union. "
He added," What Robinson says, and it's the badogy of the Insurance, you must start to make this place work, because if Northern Ireland remains a dysfunctional place where rights are denied, where unionism does not have the ability to defend itself, then , of course, you will bring much closer to the united Ireland
.Good to open this debate.If being in the union is better than d & 39; in a united Ireland so what is this argument? I think the reaction to Peter Robinson proves that there is no appropriate argument and consistent. Is there anyone in unionism who is able to articulate a rational and inclusive idea of the union? That's the crucial question.
Historian, commentator and former SDLP advisor Brian Feeney also believed that Robinson stimulated debate while taking a different perspective from Shirlow's. Due to the concerns raised by Brexit and the nationalist antipathy towards the "crocodile" and other comments from the DUP on nationalists, he did not accept that middle-clbad Catholics in significant numbers support the retention of the union in a border vote. The chances of nationalists supporting the union are slim with someone like Arlene Foster or Nigel Dodds offending them on a monthly basis. "
Feeney instead detected a change in the mood of some middle-clbad trade unionists who, fearing the fallout of Brexit, were now looking at the performance of the Republic's economy and how the
A border survey would lead to the status quo, but post-Brexit attitudes could change, according to Feeney 19659002] He added that Robinson was very aware of demographic change and was trying to convince trade unionists to cope with
"What Robinson is saying to trade unionists is that we need to discuss all the problems, his own, we need to talk about it, we need to be involved in the negotiations," Feeney said.
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