Letter: Thinking unionists will know that relations with 'Reform' are in our best interests ahead of Stormont elections next year
A letter from David McNarry:
Tomorrow could introduce a sea change threatening the Union.
Across all four UK regions the rise of nationalism is concerning.
Tomorrow, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales could in one way or another be under nationalist republican control.
The demise of the Tory and Labour parties will be evident in the wake of the electorate's rejection.
A redeeming feature is that by the end of the week the Reform UK Party will sit in pole position to be in government at 10 Downing Street.
Thinking unionists will have calculated that relations with 'Reform' are in our best interests.
With Starmer riding a storm of attempts to remove him from office and Burnham, Rayner, Streeting moving to challenge his leadership, a Westminster election could be well sooner than later.
The big question that only Nigel Farage can answer is, will 'Reform' stand candidates for election in NI-UK constituencies. A hung parliament widely predicted by experts makes NI-UK seats a premium prize of immense value.
Political unionism is at sixes and sevens, reeling from a self-inflicted divided state of flux, given their inability to strategise in order to deny Sinn Fein returning as first minister at next year's NI Assembly election.
Few can argue that in the event of 'Reform' entering NI-UK politics and unifying unionism, it would be a breath of political fresh air to see Reform fighting republicans in a British versus Irish contest.
Reform taking forward the unionist objectives and credentials for unionist self-determination would be warmly welcomed across the unionist family. The proposition cannot be dismissed.
David McNarry, Ex Ulster Unionist and Ukip MLA for Strangford