Perhaps it is time to resurrect the idea of an independent Northern Ireland

It is totally hypocritical to lambast China for breaking the Hong Kong agreement when you are also guilty of the same offence.

The message transmitted is that laws are similar to an a la carte menu in that you can choose those to observe and those to reject.

This, in conjunction with the illegal proroguing of Parliament and a top government adviser flouting pandemic regulations with impunity (which also applies to executive ministers) brings laws into disrepute with the general public.

It also triggers a double whammy as the EU are not going to waste time and energy to reach a deal if they know it can be breached in a year’s time, and it damages the UK’s standing in the world.

Some unionists support this breach but that should surprise no one as it is in their DNA. In the past they have disrespected laws and sometimes opposed them with violence when they were not to their liking.

Examples are trying to march down the Garvaghy road when it has been banned, overthrowing the power-sharing executive in 1974 with violence and intimidation.

Of course the biggest incident was early in the last century when unionists refused to accept the Home Rule Bill that was progressing through Parliament and were the first to import arms illegally in preparation for resistance by force the very Parliament to which they professed loyalty.

There are some who would contend that unionist loyalty to the UK is conditional and simply the optimum pragmatic way to frustrate a united Ireland.

Perhaps it is time to resurrect the prospect of an independent Northern Ireland.

This could potentially appeal to a majority as unionists wouldn’t be part of a unified Ireland and nationalists wouldn’t be part of the UK.

In a sink or swim scenario it might compel both sections to genuinely cooperate in order to survive.

Gerard O’Boyle, South Molton, Devon

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