Carla Lockhart: Sinn Fein taking out adverts in America will not lead to a united Ireland

Presumably that is why some republicans rely on propaganda to make their case.

In recent weeks the ‘Friends of Sinn Fein’ have taken out half page advertisements in a range of newspapers across the United States calling for a referendum on Irish unity.

The advert declares, “this is the time for the people of Ireland to have their say,” and pleads the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in aid of this call.

To those ignorant of the actual terms of the Belfast Agreement this may appear persuasive, but those who take the trouble to read the agreement itself will reach a very different conclusion.

The circumstances in which a referendum must be held are clear and unequivocal.

It is only where, “it appears likely to [the Secretary of State] that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be a part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland,” that a poll shall be held.

There cannot be the slightest doubt that this test has not come remotely close to being met.

Nationalists telling one another that a united Ireland is just around the corner does not make it so!

Predicting a united Ireland — but not just yet — is nothing new.

Readers may recall that in 2003 Martin McGuinness suggested that a united Ireland by 2016 was, “on the cards”.

In the most recent election in Northern Ireland in 2019 Sinn Fein, the only political party advocating an early border poll, secured just 22.8% of the vote and the combined Sinn Fein/SDLP vote was under 38%, down from their combined share the year the agreement was passed.

The unionist lead in opinion polls varies, but the most recent online poll found that 57% of people in Northern Ireland, who expressed a preference, would vote to remain in the UK.

The position in face-to-face and telephone polls (and surveys) has generally shown a very commanding lead for those who prefer to remain in the United Kingdom.

No politically sophisticated republican could think that there is the slightest chance that there would be a majority for a united Ireland in a referendum held in the near future, indeed SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, has recently suggested that unionists are likely to win a snap border poll.

This makes one wonder what benefit republicans see in such an exercise other than to create political instability in Northern Ireland.

Of course, there is nothing in law to prevent the secretary of state holding a border poll that he expects unionists to win (and from time-to-time some unionists have advocated such a poll to settle the matter for a generation) but it is difficult to argue with Taoiseach Michael Martin who suggested that this would be, “far too divisive at this stage”.

Sinn Fein’s brand of Irish nationalism clearly sees 50% +1 in favour of Irish unity as its objective and shows no real interest in the job of persuasion.

Their approach to politics in Northern Ireland allows no other conclusion.

This mindset explains why they vetoed an application to light up Parliament Buildings for European Victims of Terrorism Day and were found to have been acting unlawfully in delaying the introduction of a compensation scheme for injured victims of the Troubles.

The aspirations of unionists need to be higher than a simple majority in support of our present constitutional arrangements.

While it is right that unionists take the time to point out the facts of life about the lack of support for Irish unity in Northern Ireland, it is more important to build even broader support for Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom.

No one can doubt the importance of our membership of the United Kingdom in the roll out of the Covid 19 vaccine programme in Northern Ireland.

It has, quite literally, saved lives.

When the Covid pandemic comes to an end we need to make sure that there is as much focus on ensuring our National Health Service receives the support it requires to make it the envy of the world.

In the first decade of our second century, we should leave those who would seek to brow beat us into a united Ireland to their own echo chamber and instead focus on the work to make the reality of life in Northern Ireland, for everyone, even better.

That means showing people why life in the United Kingdom is better as well as telling them.

If we can do that, then it will not matter how much money the ‘friends of Sinn Fein’ choose to spend on adverts in newspapers in the United States, Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom will be secure.

• Carla Lockhart is the DUP MP for Upper Bann

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor