No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Sat Mar 04, 2017 10:08 am  

In Northern Ireland Stormont's Assembly there will be no Unionist majority for the first time in the history of Northern Ireland. This is huge news with enormous implications. For decades this falsely created in built majority has been eroded and demographics mean it will continue to be eroded. When Northern Ireland was created this was never really foreseen as it was falsely created to be as large as possible whilst maintaining a built in Unionist majority. This is why it is tiny and is only actually 6 out of 9 Ulster Counties, it couldn't be any smaller as it wouldn't be financially viable.

Losing the in built in Unionist majority is a huge blow for the Unionist people and the whole Protestant Parliament for a Protestant people psyche. Sinn Fein are now only 1 seat behind the DUP and the SDLP are also the 3rd biggest party. The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, and the next biggest City in Derry both have Nationalist majorities. Unionists can no longer do as they please and ignore the rights of everyone that doesn't subscribe to their often narrow view, which often means they follow UK law when it suits, such as Brexit or Welfare Reform, or want different Northern Ireland laws when it doesn't, on things like gay rights, Irish language, abortion etc. Arlene Foster as First Minister talks of leading her community, and not the people of Northern Ireland, and this does nothing to create a fully inclusive society. The DUP as the largest Unionist party need to realise that they need to work with Nationalists, Catholics and other minority groups because the days of doing whatever they want are gone and ignoring the wishes of everyone else are gone.

This result doesn't mean a United Ireland but nether do I think Unionists will be happy living in a minority in Northern Ireland, which is inevitable. After all they weren't happy at the prospect in Ireland before partition when they ignored the wishes of the majority on the island of Ireland with their threats of violence and terrorism that led to partition in the first place. This seems to be forgotten. Maybe Unionists will threaten violence again and argue for a new partition and a 2 County Northern Ireland so they can have their majority, after all it worked pre 1921.

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Sat Mar 04, 2017 11:42 am  

Ireland is moving into new territory and the effects of Brexit will be hardest felt on the Irish border.

Although it would be far from straightforward and quite possibly lead to blood shed, coming out of the EU will lead to calls for a united Ireland, which could get very messy.
If the 2 parts of Ireland remain "separate", there will still be major hassles in controlling the border between the north and south, even more so than the old days.

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:24 pm  

Obviously nobody knows the impact of brexit, certainly the Irish government is concerned over brexit. It's more than likely to hit them quite quite hard as we are very close trading partners with them.
If brexit is a disaster and the Irish economy is successful, it's already picking up ,Northern Ireland may decide to finally agree to unification. It's a long shot I know but it would be ironic after all the bloodshed if this happened.

[Bullseye]

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:29 pm  

Nobody on either side (apart from the lunatic fringe) wants to back to the days pre-ceasefire.

People on all sides recognise that even if they play the populist card in elections.

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:43 pm  

Backwoodsman wrote:

Obviously nobody knows the impact of brexit, certainly the Irish government is concerned over brexit. It's more than likely to hit them quite quite hard as we are very close trading partners with them.
If brexit is a disaster and the Irish economy is successful, it's already picking up ,Northern Ireland may decide to finally agree to unification. It's a long shot I know but it would be ironic after all the bloodshed if this happened.

Even if the nationalists become a majority in Northern Ireland I don't personally believe that there will be a united Ireland. Even in the unlikely event that Britain abandons Ulster I can see an independent Northern Irish state before there is ever a united Irish republic.

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:36 pm  

wigan_rlfc wrote:

Even if the nationalists become a majority in Northern Ireland I don't personally believe that there will be a united Ireland. Even in the unlikely event that Britain abandons Ulster I can see an independent Northern Irish state before there is ever a united Irish republic.

You may be right but, does N.Ireland have sufficient levels of manufacturing or other industries that would could sustain the North as an independent state.
Also, to overcome the problems which Brexit will bring, they may wish to be part of The EU and this would raise further interesting questions about their constitution and whether they would want to align themselves to Westminster or Dublin.

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:27 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

You may be right but, does N.Ireland have sufficient levels of manufacturing or other industries that would could sustain the North as an independent state.
Also, to overcome the problems which Brexit will bring, they may wish to be part of The EU and this would raise further interesting questions about their constitution and whether they would want to align themselves to Westminster or Dublin.

I there the appetite in the South for a United Ireland? The troubles stretched the resources of the British army, could Dublin deal with the UVF/UFF acting as an IRA in reverse? The loyalist population in the north would never accept a united Ireland without a fight.

Re: No Unionist majority in Northern Ireland's Stormont : Tue Apr 25, 2017 11:08 pm  

wigan_rlfc wrote:

I there the appetite in the South for a United Ireland? The troubles stretched the resources of the British army, could Dublin deal with the UVF/UFF acting as an IRA in reverse? The loyalist population in the north would never accept a united Ireland without a fight.

Well with the NHS in crisis, society more divided along ethnic/socio-economic lines,a harridan in No 10 and Bananarama touring lets give it a go for old times sake.