Letter: Reform's electoral performance is to be commended but I'm still sceptical of the party’s stance on the Union

Those who, judging by social media, appear to be DUP members/supporters are now quick to praise Reform UK’s remarkable results as the “be all and end all” but they should be careful what they wish for and avoid speaking too soon.

Reform has undoubtedly made significant inroads and their electoral performance is to be commended.

However, I remain sceptical about their unionist credentials, particularly given some of Nigel Farage’s past remarks regarding Northern Ireland and the Union itself.

Coincidentally, many of the same voices now hailing Farage as the answer to everything were previously proclaiming Boris Johnson as the man who would solve all our problems.

Instead, Boris delivered the Union-dismantling Protocol, leaving Northern Ireland drifting further away from our beloved United Kingdom.

As the editorial rightly points out, we are living in deeply uncertain times. Nationalist parties now hold the largest number of seats in both the Scottish and Welsh administrations, while here in our beloved province, sadly Sinn Féin remains the party with the most seats in the assembly.

I also believe that Farage and many within Reform represent a form of English nationalism which does not necessarily place the preservation of the Union at its heart.

No doubt we will all watch with interest to see how matters develop - and indeed how long ‘Captain Hindsight’ Keir Starmer can withstand the growing political pressure.

W J Craig, Belfast 5