Unionists need to co-operate on the Union rather than let anti-British racists win by default

Alex Kane (‘Unionism suffers by not knowing its own narrative,’ March 15, see link below) encourages unionists to tackle republicans’ attempts to repackage the Troubles as if the IRA were the peacemakers, rather than the perpetrators.

In April 2017, Arlene Foster promised “to bring people together from all walks of life and unionism to create a document entitled ‘the case for the Union’”. Where is it? I can find no reference to such a document online.

On October 24 2020 (see link below), Peter Robinson called in this paper for a pro-Union think tank to provide policy analysis and advice for unionist elected representatives. Again, is anyone doing anything to bring it into being?

Aggressive republicanism is marching through our public institutions, rewriting the political agenda, dominating debate and excluding its critics. Its logic may be primitive and its morality skewed, but it is gaining ground.

Unionists may ask why should they have to justify their position. If Dublin wants a shared Ireland, let it accept that Northern Ireland is here to stay, and start treating unionists with genuine respect.

But this means that the audiences we need to persuade are not hearing our arguments. Northern Ireland’s 100th anniversary deserves a full-throated birthday party, which must include celebrating its existence.

Now that the leaders of political unionism are working together against the European Protocol, will they also cooperate on the case for the Union?

Or are they going to let the anti-British racists win by default?

Dr WB Smith, Belfast BT15

• Alex Kane: Unionism suffers by not knowing its own narrative

• Peter Robinson: Northern Ireland needs a pro Union group that will help prepare for any border poll

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