If unionist politicians have the principles of the late Ian Gow MP, they would be prepared to sacrifice their career for the Union

(The article can be read here: ‘If we had more Ian Gows, the world would be a better place,’ July 30)

Over the course of ‘the Troubles’, Ian Gow MP was one of the very few genuine conviction unionists that could be found in the corridors of Westminster.

His sincere commitment to maintaining the full Union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was proven when he resigned as a minister in protest over the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Tragically this act of patriotism, along with his opposition to the appeasement of IRA terrorism, would cost him more than just a very promising career on the front benches,

Sadly for unionism there is seemingly no one of his ilk in the Tories today. This was evidenced by the fact that not a single Tory MP voted against the proposed Irish Sea border, which is set to impose an EU customs border between NI and the rest of the UK

With hindsight the Anglo-Irish Agreement seems timid compared to the extensive violation of both British sovereignty and the principle of consent which the NI protocol represents.

It also will in effect turn Northern Ireland into the first colony of the EU. The Province will still be subject to EU laws but its people will have no say in how those laws are made.

The question that remains to be answered is whether the DUP, Ulster Unionists and the TUV share the unionist convictions of the late Ian Gow MP.

Does Ulster’s current generation of unionist MLAs possess the same willingness to sacrifice personal career ambitions, if the national interest demands it?

If so, then every unionist MLA should publicly declare that it will be their intention to resign from the assembly in a bloc and collapse local devolution, unless the government renegotiates the Irish Sea protocol

If not, then at the very least they have a duty to provide an alternative strategy.

They should also explain clearly to the grassroots why political unionism has been so silent and seemingly indifferent to even trying to influence the government in their ongoing negotiations with the EU.

Kirk McDowell B.Sc. Belfast BT5

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