Unionists would not have backed Belfast Agreement if nationality was going to be changed

Why? The 1998 agreement affirmed the existing nationality laws of both the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Stephen Farry seems to forget that many unionists only supported the 1998 agreement with reservations in the hope that it would lead to a permanent peace, and that a line would be drawn under any further changes to the constitution or the nationality laws.

My own recollection of that period back in 1998 is that many of the unionists who did support the Belfast Agreement only did so on the understanding that their Britishness wouldn’t be affected.

In fact, it was emphasised by Her Majesty’s Government in the run up to the referendum in May 1998 that the British nationality laws would remain intact, while Dublin likewise affirmed the same as regards the Irish nationality laws.

It is my opinion that had the public been informed to the contrary, that the British Nationality Act 1981 will be amended in order to water down the Britishness of people from Northern Ireland, that most of the unionists who did support the agreement, wouldn’t have touched it with a barge pole.

It would therefore be somewhat deceitful to change the British Nationality laws after the agreement has already been approved in a referendum.

As regards those citizens who prefer to affirm their Irish citizenship under the gift of the Dublin government, it should be remembered that under an act of parliament of Westminster entitled ‘The Ireland Act 1949’, Irish citizens generally have the same rights as British citizens within the UK.

Is it not therefore better to let sleeping dogs lie?

FD Tombe, Belfast BT15