The DUP thread

[Itchy]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

[johnnycool]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

You can't vote Alliance in a UI referendum.

The sitting on the fence will be over.

[Rossfan]

You have the choice of not voting!

[johnnycool]

You have the choice of not voting!

You certainly do, but that won't prevent a majority from voting Tá

[marty34]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

If people on here think that unionism will change overnight, you's are deluded.

In 2023, the anti-Irish manifesto is still alive and well.  Actually worse since the 1920's.

And then people think that unionism can be talked to etc.

How's that going?

[yellowcard]

Unionism is all over the place and Jeffrey Donaldson has had little or no control of the DUP since taking over. In the last few days you had Wilson, Foster, Wells and Paisley all queuing up from the sidelines to have a pop at the US presidents visit and then you have that ultra antagonist Bryson meeting with him regularly for god knows what. It all sits well with their base but the optics look terrible from the outside world looking in. But none of those DUP politicians have any money concerns so they can afford to whip up the masses for their own political and financial benefits. 

Add to that their use of propaganda outlets such as the Newsletter, GB News and the Nolan Show which are used as a political tool and which are all designed to whip up fear & division and Unionism is in a sorry state. No long term strategy whatsoever except for hurdling through the next election with the same old tired, negative voices.     

It is a very fragmented party but for some reason it still works. I still think they basically hang on the ticket of "we're not SF".

I would say you're right tyrone08. I don't think they are going anywhere soon but they will eventually.

Also I wish their lies would be called out significantly more. They did not tell their voters they would bring down stormont prior to doing so and you see Pengelly swanning round there having earned nothing.

At least in one regard the world has now seen we have known all along - that they're bonkers and just can't be reasoned with at all.

This in a nutshell.

The days of saying each side is as bad as each other needs to be questioned as it was never the case and now anyone having to deal with the DUP are seeing what they are like and that includes Sunak who evidently bowed to their pressure and downgraded Bidens visit as per their wishes and made him and the UK look pathetic to the US.

https://www.irishecho.com/2023/4/cold-house-for-biden-no-love-lost-between-americans-and-british-during-visit#.ZDfEVTqtVSx.twitter

You can see Biden has very very little regard for Sunak. The Brits are becoming an international embarassment tbh. Johnson's tenure and Brexit have really hammered that home.

Sunak won't be in post for long, he is a bit of a lame duck prime minister. He knows pragmatically that he has to forge closer relationship with the EU for the overall future economic health of the UK. But he is also hamstrung by the ERG Tories within his own party who will ditch and turn on him as soon as they get the chance. So he finds himself constantly creating culture wars around immigration and the likes.

Ireland has an opportunity now to forge ahead of the UK, being the primary English speaking EU country with a well educated workforce and low corporate tax rate. The north could benefit somewhat from this also with still being in the EU for goods, but looking at the difference in attitude in the last few weeks when the DUP went out of their way to insult the Americans, you would wonder will this investment be as forthcoming as it could potentially be.   

[Feckitt]

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Make sure all your friends and family are updated and registered to vote at the correct address.

[weareros]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

If people on here think that unionism will change overnight, you's are deluded.

In 2023, the anti-Irish manifesto is still alive and well.  Actually worse since the 1920's.

And then people think that unionism can be talked to etc.

How's that going?

Unionism is an election or two from slipping below 40% of the vote. The biggest question is why UI trails staying in UK in most opinion polls when the statelet is some shitshow. The economic performance of the 26 is light years ahead of the 6. Education prospects are better. Life span is longer and despite criticism of health service in 26, the standards are clearly higher. The xenophobia of the DUP is an embarrassment. There's extremists in 26 too but they command less than a percentage or two of electorate. Then the NI supporters coming out against Casement, unable to see that they have not a stadium for purpose in their mighty UK. You would think at this stage that UI in opinion polls would pull ahead. Why does clinging to the Brexit UK/Unionism still win the day - when a better alternative is now clearly visible.

[trailer]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

If people on here think that unionism will change overnight, you's are deluded.

In 2023, the anti-Irish manifesto is still alive and well.  Actually worse since the 1920's.

And then people think that unionism can be talked to etc.

How's that going?

Hard-line unionists definitely not. The Union is above everything, health, prosperity, everything. Nothing trumps "Our Precious Union".
I think we need to convince some on what would be deemed "our side" who get lumped in with Nationalists and probably some even vote SF. We could start convincing them. And once we've done that we could move on to trickier targets like Alliance voters.

[seafoid]

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2018/sep/30/stephen-rea-british-identity-is-dwindling-brexit-samuel-beckett-cyprus-avenue#:~:text=The%20Belfast%20I%20grew%20up,flag%2C%20all%20that%20stuff.%E2%80%9D

The Belfast I grew up in was a pre-Troubles city, so not progressive in any meaningful way. Put simply, they would not do anything the Free State [Ireland] did. They got rid of the Irish language, they banned the Irish flag, all that stuff."

Unionists were, and still are, cut off not just from Catholics and from Ireland, but from the world. It's pure isolation. And it is so drummed into the young that they cannot let go of these views."

[Applesisapples]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

If people on here think that unionism will change overnight, you's are deluded.

In 2023, the anti-Irish manifesto is still alive and well.  Actually worse since the 1920's.

And then people think that unionism can be talked to etc.

How's that going?

Unionism is an election or two from slipping below 40% of the vote. The biggest question is why UI trails staying in UK in most opinion polls when the statelet is some shitshow. The economic performance of the 26 is light years ahead of the 6. Education prospects are better. Life span is longer and despite criticism of health service in 26, the standards are clearly higher. The xenophobia of the DUP is an embarrassment. There's extremists in 26 too but they command less than a percentage or two of electorate. Then the NI supporters coming out against Casement, unable to see that they have not a stadium for purpose in their mighty UK. You would think at this stage that UI in opinion polls would pull ahead. Why does clinging to the Brexit UK/Unionism still win the day - when a better alternative is now clearly visible.

The reality is people fear change and until the benefits of a UI are clearly defined and risk free people will stay with the status quo. There is a lot of work to be donee on this. The current Irish Government is Luke warm at best on a UI and that doesn't help.

[LC]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

If people on here think that unionism will change overnight, you's are deluded.

In 2023, the anti-Irish manifesto is still alive and well.  Actually worse since the 1920's.

And then people think that unionism can be talked to etc.

How's that going?

Unionism is an election or two from slipping below 40% of the vote. The biggest question is why UI trails staying in UK in most opinion polls when the statelet is some shitshow. The economic performance of the 26 is light years ahead of the 6. Education prospects are better. Life span is longer and despite criticism of health service in 26, the standards are clearly higher. The xenophobia of the DUP is an embarrassment. There's extremists in 26 too but they command less than a percentage or two of electorate. Then the NI supporters coming out against Casement, unable to see that they have not a stadium for purpose in their mighty UK. You would think at this stage that UI in opinion polls would pull ahead. Why does clinging to the Brexit UK/Unionism still win the day - when a better alternative is now clearly visible.

The reality is people fear change and until the benefits of a UI are clearly defined and risk free people will stay with the status quo. There is a lot of work to be donee on this. The current Irish Government is Luke warm at best on a UI and that doesn't help.

No surpise, NI is an economic basket case that has been insolvent for years.  By taking on NI the RoI GDP would be taking a serious hit.

[imtommygunn]

The reform needed in the health service would be huge. The hit with civil service jobs and pensions would be huge. Funding peace initiatives would be huge. Big undertaking for the south. Though please do it 

[Substandard]

I think any referendum would need to be projected say 15 years or so in the event of a yes to unification.
There would need to be time to get things aligned, but you would imagine significant EU support and funding would be made available.  If Brexit means Brexit for the long term,  then it would be in the EU's interest to ensure that a United Ireland would be a comparative success.
Identity politics would be so complex.  It's hard to visualise Sammy Wilson or Jim Allister in Dáil Éireann, and when the likes of Nigel or Arlene won't have the prospect of a House of Lords as a fallback, it might be more difficult to convince the politicians rather than the electorate.

[Itchy]

I think a lot will change in the next 10 years.

Now is like the old science experiment when it took ages for the water to change colour, then with one drop, the colour changes dramatically.

This is what is happening now with the demographics and the next few years, things will change dramatically.

Demographics is the big shaker now.

If you think demographics and demographics alone will deliver a united Ireland you are deluded.

Demographics alone won't work because too many nationalists leaning people don't vote or spunk their vote on the alliance party who talk a good game but literally have zero interest in a UI

You are right, demographics alone won't work but when the UK slides further into economic turmoil after Brexit, guess which part of it will bare the brunt? That and demographics will be the death of the union and the unionists know this but they just can't process it.

If people on here think that unionism will change overnight, you's are deluded.

In 2023, the anti-Irish manifesto is still alive and well.  Actually worse since the 1920's.

And then people think that unionism can be talked to etc.

How's that going?

Unionism is an election or two from slipping below 40% of the vote. The biggest question is why UI trails staying in UK in most opinion polls when the statelet is some shitshow. The economic performance of the 26 is light years ahead of the 6. Education prospects are better. Life span is longer and despite criticism of health service in 26, the standards are clearly higher. The xenophobia of the DUP is an embarrassment. There's extremists in 26 too but they command less than a percentage or two of electorate. Then the NI supporters coming out against Casement, unable to see that they have not a stadium for purpose in their mighty UK. You would think at this stage that UI in opinion polls would pull ahead. Why does clinging to the Brexit UK/Unionism still win the day - when a better alternative is now clearly visible.

The reality is people fear change and until the benefits of a UI are clearly defined and risk free people will stay with the status quo. There is a lot of work to be donee on this. The current Irish Government is Luke warm at best on a UI and that doesn't help.

No surpise, NI is an economic basket case that has been insolvent for years.  By taking on NI the RoI GDP would be taking a serious hit.

The current Irish Government is on borrowed time and FG especially will be gone after next election