Most people do not realise quite how comprehensively devolved Northern Ireland is. Why does the DUP, which yesterday decided that the Good Friday Agreement was sacrosanct after all, regard different tariffs or VAT rates as a threat to the Union when different Social Security benefits are not? The Union is whatever the Parliament of the United Kingdom says that it is at any given time.
The DUP may sincerely believe that it prizes the Union even over Brexit, but it also embodies a tradition, which was always there but which was not given any real prominence until the emergence of the late Ian Paisley, the only true desire of which is for a homeland for the fundamentalist minority of Ulster Protestants in as much of Ireland as could be held for the purpose.
And held by whoever: by the Ulster Resistance that has has never so much as declared as ceasefire, by the UDA and the UVF that are "consulted" despite the fact that mere membership of them is an imprisonable offence, by whoever.
The DUP may sincerely believe that it prizes the Union even over Brexit, but it also embodies a tradition, which was always there but which was not given any real prominence until the emergence of the late Ian Paisley, the only true desire of which is for a homeland for the fundamentalist minority of Ulster Protestants in as much of Ireland as could be held for the purpose.
And held by whoever: by the Ulster Resistance that has has never so much as declared as ceasefire, by the UDA and the UVF that are "consulted" despite the fact that mere membership of them is an imprisonable offence, by whoever.
People of that mind are entirely clear-eyed about the fact that that homeland could never pay for itself. Hitherto, they have expected Britain to pay for it. But they are keeping their options open. They know that the United States would flatly refuse any trade agreement with the United Kingdom unless the Irish Republic had approved it. And if the 10 votes of the DUP were just enough to stop Brexit in practice, then the EU would notice, and it would not forget.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. A new party is now in the process of registration. After nearly 30 years of suggestion, speculation, and even a sort of preparation, I will stand for Parliament here at North West Durham. The crowdfunding page is here, and buy the book here. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
Another hung Parliament is coming, however, and we need our people to hold the balance of power in it. A new party is now in the process of registration. After nearly 30 years of suggestion, speculation, and even a sort of preparation, I will stand for Parliament here at North West Durham. The crowdfunding page is here, and buy the book here. Please email davidaslindsay@hotmail.com. Very many thanks.
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