Unionists have been shown how they would be treated when Irish nationalists have power

The way the Northern Ireland Protocol has come about has shown how unionists are treated and therefore the importance of the Union.
By Philip Wilson
Published 14th Apr 2021, 21:25 BST
Updated 14th Apr 2021, 21:28 BST
The NI Protocol turns Northern Ireland into a colony of the EU in which 60% of the laws that govern NI's economy would, be made under the jurisdiction of a foreign EU courtThe NI Protocol turns Northern Ireland into a colony of the EU in which 60% of the laws that govern NI's economy would, be made under the jurisdiction of a foreign EU court
The NI Protocol turns Northern Ireland into a colony of the EU in which 60% of the laws that govern NI's economy would, be made under the jurisdiction of a foreign EU court

In drawing on his mammoth studies into political power, the American biographer Robert Caro observed that power doesn’t necessarily corrupt, but it certainly reveals.

Taken on those terms, the protocol saga reveals an ugliness to Irish nationalism which unionists would not have foreseen in 2015.

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The protocol may or may not survive combined unionist and loyalist opposition — that’s a topic for another day. However, its handling has sent a very clear message about how nationalism treats unionists and unionist rights whenever nationalism is intoxicated with political power (through joint backing of the US and EU in this instance).

Philip Wilson is a Master in Politics and Contemporary History from King’s College London who has worked in StormontPhilip Wilson is a Master in Politics and Contemporary History from King’s College London who has worked in Stormont
Philip Wilson is a Master in Politics and Contemporary History from King’s College London who has worked in Stormont

Dermot Nesbitt has noted that the protocol breaches the rights of unionists under the Council of Europe and David Trimble has explained that it “rips apart” the 1998 agreement and turns Northern Ireland “into a colony of the European Union”.

This is because 60% of the laws that govern Northern Ireland’s economy would, under the protocol, be made under the jurisdiction of a foreign EU court, with input from politicians in the Irish Republic.

For any unionist the point is clear: if your rights and peace agreement are being trampled over while you have a home in Northern Ireland, then how much worse would it be in the nationalist (and perhaps Sinn Fein governed) Republic?

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While the protocol saga goes on, the same tired figures speak to each other at the same new Ireland forums (while largely talking at unionists) in a bid to manufacture a media narrative about an escalating ‘conversation’.

Talk in recent times about a united Ireland has long pointed towards a nationalism that is happy to indulge in PR-friendly token gestures and platitudes about equality and minority protections.

However, for all the talk of rights, diversity, parity of esteem and mutual respect, the protocol’s handling has revealed a nationalism that views unionist rights as conditional, and which sees unionism’s role as acquiescing to the demands of nationalism.

Despite this, I have no doubt that we’ll hear much rhetoric from the usual suspects — SDLP, FG, FF, SF — about the need for unionists to ‘join conversations’ in the coming weeks and months.

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Following nationalism’s non-engagement on the centenary of Northern Ireland and radical reform of the protocol, unionism will rightly reciprocate by not engaging in their New Ireland conversation.

In looking to history, unionists partly backed the Union over the South a century ago because they correctly understood that they would be ran roughshod over in a sectarian religious state.

That church may now be diminished but a new religious adherence to the EU provides a curious (if less existential) modern parallel about the treatment of unionist rights whenever they contradict the religious cause of a politically powerful nationalism.

The conclusion is the same today as it was then; albeit it is a timely reminder for unionists.

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Based on Caro’s lesson, the protocol saga has revealed the true face of nationalism, along with just how precious our home is.

• Philip Wilson is a Master in Politics and History from King’s College London who has worked in Stormont

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Related topics:UnionistsNorthern Ireland ProtocolNorthern Ireland