Unionist leaders need to explain to their voters that Northern Ireland is not fully British or Irish

As recently as two short years ago, the pro-Union Mainstream group was the principal promoter, and lead sponsor, of a State of the Union debate in Albertbridge Road Orange Hall.

The panel consisted of Emma Pengelly, Julie-Anne Corr-Johnson, Sammy Morrison and Robbie Butler and the audience comprised a wide range of pro-Union opinion including an array of well known unionist and loyalist figures.

Half way through the meeting, a distinguished gentleman who sounded more like Ken Clarke than a resident of BT5, suggested that if the unionist leadership continued on their hardcore Brexit strategy that we would end up with a border in the Irish Sea and an economic united Ireland.

He was laughed at, shouted down and he left early.

More recently, a Mainstream poll on social media revealed that most unionists would vote for Brexit all over again in the full knowledge that it would lead to an Irish Sea border.

Which would suggest that the biggest problem our leaders now face is how to explain to their voters that times have changed and we now have a new hybrid constitutional status.

As a semi-autonomous region of the UK, not fully British or Irish either.

Meanwhile, Jim Allister is leading a united team of unionists in a challenge to the legality of the protocol notwithstanding our previous form attempting to overturn internationally binding treaties. Having said that we wish him well.

Alan S. Carson, Founder of pro-Union Mainstream group on social media, Castlereagh, BT5

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor