Unionists have only themselves to blame

So it would seem. Furthermore, unionists may have only themselves to blame.

As Alex Kane [Jan 11] stated, “Sinn Fein have been forced to work within an ongoing partitionist settlement.”

Of course it is not just about Sinn Fein themselves alone. It concerns all “non-unionists”. And it goes back to the formation of the unionist state in 1921 through Britain’s 1920 Partition of Ireland Act.

To quote Alex: “I have accepted and acknowledged for most of my life that unionism was often its own worst enemy. That being the case I can understand why non-unionists [or even those who were just perceived as non-unionists and potential fifth columnists] had huge difficulties with the one party, one ideology state that existed from 1921 -- although I can also understand the reasons why the state took that form.”

In fairness to all concerned, a unionist state for unionist people should have been precisely that, strictly for unionists themselves alone.

As Jim Allister [Jan 13] stated at the end of his letter: “This indeed is the price being paid to sustain the “unseemly and immoral sham” that is Belfast Agreement devolution.”

Yes Jim, Ulster is British.

Malachy Scott, Belfast BT15