A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[armaghniac]

Stew,the greatest opposition to a United Ireland is to be found in Dublin,matched by a dwindling Unionist community.No point in wasting energy on something that's not going to happen.There is no talk about it,other than  from a handful of deluded loons (Ireland's equivalent of UKIP),far less a policy or strategy about delivering it.

If a United Ireland does ever come about,and I won't live to see it,it will be a bit like the ultimate Brexit,watered down so much that no one will notice any difference,a federal state with Stormont still in operation with two blocs still able to veto everything and as result no agreement on anything,the Freestate back in the Commonwealth and every Unionist grievance pandered to,in orderto keep them unalienatec.

Perhaps you can be given a job advising how best to pander to unionists.

[seafoid]

The Poc is cleary the problem, but I presume at this point it is more the DUP who wish to keep it as the unionists do not have a majority and never will again.

they might try to offload Tyrone and Fermanagh once Arlene goes

[Applesisapples]

Surely it is SF that is obstructing government here,not Unionists,All for electoral gain in the South,like as if people in Dublin 4 are ever going to vote SF😂😂.

The very real risk here is the Direct Rule will lead to improved governance (wouldn't be hard to achieve) to the extent that people won't want devolution to ever return.I know of one Tory Minister in a previous Direct Rule era who is absolutely revered round the nationalist Newry South Down era,for all he achieved.

Then things settle down,Dublin wipes its forehead with a huge sigh of relief,Gerry retires and the gap between Northern SF and Southern SF widens,and a United Ireland is not even mentioned any more.

The elephant in the room that only Brian Feeney and Alex Kane care to see, is that the majority of nationalists care not a fig should Stormont be closed for good. The DUP will not share power on a rights based footing, they see only one culture and way of life here and that is British. It must dominate and not an inch should be given to Irishness. This is the rock upon which the union will flounder.

[OgraAnDun]

Surely it is SF that is obstructing government here,not Unionists,All for electoral gain in the South,like as if people in Dublin 4 are ever going to vote SF😂😂.

The very real risk here is the Direct Rule will lead to improved governance (wouldn't be hard to achieve) to the extent that people won't want devolution to ever return.I know of one Tory Minister in a previous Direct Rule era who is absolutely revered round the nationalist Newry South Down era,for all he achieved.

Then things settle down,Dublin wipes its forehead with a huge sigh of relief,Gerry retires and the gap between Northern SF and Southern SF widens,and a United Ireland is not even mentioned any more.

The elephant in the room that only Brian Feeney and Alex Kane care to see, is that the majority of nationalists care not a fig should Stormont be closed for good. The DUP will not share power on a rights based footing, they see only one culture and way of life here and that is British. It must dominate and not an inch should be given to Irishness. This is the rock upon which the union will flounder.

+1.

[T Fearon]

The alternative is direct British Rule by a Tory/DUP alliance,hardly to the liking of SF.

[armaghniac]

The alternative is direct British Rule by a Tory/DUP alliance,hardly to the liking of SF.

it isn't difficult to see a change of government in London at this stage, given the antics of the present one.

[T Fearon]

British Rule is British Rule,whether administered by Tories or Labour

[Applesisapples]

The alternative is direct British Rule by a Tory/DUP alliance,hardly to the liking of SF.

and that suits SF to a tee, they have a built in bogeyman and can play the protest card which neatly helps in the South.

[Rossfan]

They seem to be fairly stuck on the 15% ghetto in "the South".

[T Fearon]

SF will never get near power in the South.To go in as Junior coalition partners will be the final nail in the coffin.They may do better when Adams goes,but that will be as a result of a further chasm with the Northern wing.

[AQMP]

Surely it is SF that is obstructing government here,not Unionists,All for electoral gain in the South,like as if people in Dublin 4 are ever going to vote SF😂😂.

The very real risk here is the Direct Rule will lead to improved governance (wouldn't be hard to achieve) to the extent that people won't want devolution to ever return.I know of one Tory Minister in a previous Direct Rule era who is absolutely revered round the nationalist Newry South Down era,for all he achieved.

Then things settle down,Dublin wipes its forehead with a huge sigh of relief,Gerry retires and the gap between Northern SF and Southern SF widens,and a United Ireland is not even mentioned any more.

The elephant in the room that only Brian Feeney and Alex Kane care to see, is that the majority of nationalists care not a fig should Stormont be closed for good. The DUP will not share power on a rights based footing, they see only one culture and way of life here and that is British. It must dominate and not an inch should be given to Irishness. This is the rock upon which the union will flounder.

This.

[Applesisapples]

Surely it is SF that is obstructing government here,not Unionists,All for electoral gain in the South,like as if people in Dublin 4 are ever going to vote SF😂😂.

The very real risk here is the Direct Rule will lead to improved governance (wouldn't be hard to achieve) to the extent that people won't want devolution to ever return.I know of one Tory Minister in a previous Direct Rule era who is absolutely revered round the nationalist Newry South Down era,for all he achieved.

Then things settle down,Dublin wipes its forehead with a huge sigh of relief,Gerry retires and the gap between Northern SF and Southern SF widens,and a United Ireland is not even mentioned any more.

The elephant in the room that only Brian Feeney and Alex Kane care to see, is that the majority of nationalists care not a fig should Stormont be closed for good. The DUP will not share power on a rights based footing, they see only one culture and way of life here and that is British. It must dominate and not an inch should be given to Irishness. This is the rock upon which the union will flounder.

This.

have you a point?

[armaghniac]

Surely it is SF that is obstructing government here,not Unionists,All for electoral gain in the South,like as if people in Dublin 4 are ever going to vote SF😂😂.

The very real risk here is the Direct Rule will lead to improved governance (wouldn't be hard to achieve) to the extent that people won't want devolution to ever return.I know of one Tory Minister in a previous Direct Rule era who is absolutely revered round the nationalist Newry South Down era,for all he achieved.

Then things settle down,Dublin wipes its forehead with a huge sigh of relief,Gerry retires and the gap between Northern SF and Southern SF widens,and a United Ireland is not even mentioned any more.

The elephant in the room that only Brian Feeney and Alex Kane care to see, is that the majority of nationalists care not a fig should Stormont be closed for good. The DUP will not share power on a rights based footing, they see only one culture and way of life here and that is British. It must dominate and not an inch should be given to Irishness. This is the rock upon which the union will flounder.

This.

have you a point?

You already made the point, we agree with you.
All of this will be interesting to political scientists. A couple of years ago there was a sort of disinterested acceptance of Stormont. The disinterest led to a modest turnout of normal people in the election and the DUP did well. Hubris got the better of them and they went off on a solo run with Brexit, RHI, and cancelling the Irish language funding. People who were disinterested, or resigned, woke up. The DUP have failed to back themselves out their own hole and the whole idea of the present setup is now up for discussion.

[AQMP]

Surely it is SF that is obstructing government here,not Unionists,All for electoral gain in the South,like as if people in Dublin 4 are ever going to vote SF😂😂.

The very real risk here is the Direct Rule will lead to improved governance (wouldn't be hard to achieve) to the extent that people won't want devolution to ever return.I know of one Tory Minister in a previous Direct Rule era who is absolutely revered round the nationalist Newry South Down era,for all he achieved.

Then things settle down,Dublin wipes its forehead with a huge sigh of relief,Gerry retires and the gap between Northern SF and Southern SF widens,and a United Ireland is not even mentioned any more.

The elephant in the room that only Brian Feeney and Alex Kane care to see, is that the majority of nationalists care not a fig should Stormont be closed for good. The DUP will not share power on a rights based footing, they see only one culture and way of life here and that is British. It must dominate and not an inch should be given to Irishness. This is the rock upon which the union will flounder.

This.

have you a point?

Yes, I agree with you!

[LeoMc]

The alternative is direct British Rule by a Tory/DUP alliance,hardly to the liking of SF.

And that gives them someone to blame for the cuts. In Government they would have hard choices to make. Much easier to be a populist when you don't have to do something unpopular.