- Location
- Limousin
As I see it, NI Unionists have always had stronger identity with Scotland and then the UK rather than England and Wales. How would Unionists react to an independent Scotland?
Arlene Foster steps down
- Thread starter bobk
- Start date
As I see it, NI Unionists have always had stronger identity with Scotland and then the UK rather than England and Wales. How would Unionists react to an independent Scotland?
Wellytrack
Member
N.I Unionists have the strongest identity with being British within one of four regions within the United Kingdom. They would have a closer cultural affinity with Scotland due to their shared culture and roots.
- Location
- Northern Ireland
There's a predominant presence of Scots blood in counties Antrim and Down (and was significant in Donegal too), but in other counties it would be much more balanced between English and Scots. I think Unionists in any part of the UK would be right to grieve the loss of Scotland.
Wellytrack
Member
Not sure the Union would survive the loss of Scotland..
- Location
- Beragh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Fermanagh is possibly the only county in NI where English originally outnumbered Scots.
Wellytrack
Member
A lot of them had came up from living in Leinster for 100 years.
- Location
- Northern Ireland
And in a relatively more peaceable changing of the guard, Capt. Doug Beattie was declared leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, after the deadline for further nominations passed without event. Having been around in his lengthy career in the army, Doug takes a more liberal line than his equivalent in the DUP, as has typically been the way. But I expect him to point out that in 2021 unionism and Irish nationalism do not need to be framed as Catholic/protestant ideals. He will presumably continue to pursue a very public agenda of social normalisation, like reducing discrimination in the religious schooling sector, and promoting integration and wider inclusion of minorities.
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Hell hath no fury, eh!!!!
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
DUP turmoil: Resignations, walk outs and heated exchanges after 'ding dong' leadership meeting but Poots insists party not divided
New DUP leader Edwin Poots has insisted the party is not divided, despite a heated meeting to confirm him as the next leader last night.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
- Location
- Beragh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Odd position for a party that usually kept internal matters internal.
Bet Edwin is quietly asking himself “what got in to me, to go for this job in the first place”?
After all, demographic and societal change in NI, aren’t exactly blowing favourable winds for the DUP. Then there’s the Brexit / Protocol blame fest, which has to damage them electorally.
Yeah, Edwin shoulda kept collecting his ministerial salary and expenses, and tended to the farm in the evenings.
After all, demographic and societal change in NI, aren’t exactly blowing favourable winds for the DUP. Then there’s the Brexit / Protocol blame fest, which has to damage them electorally.
Yeah, Edwin shoulda kept collecting his ministerial salary and expenses, and tended to the farm in the evenings.
- Location
- Northern Ireland
That's true. On the other hand, expectations of him are so low, that he really shouldn't have to do much at all to surprise people to the upside.
You know, there’s more than a 50:50 chance the Shinners will take the FM post at the next election.
Of course it will be deeply shocking for unionist community, after 100 years of being the “boss”.
But the world wont end. Not a lot will change. After a while unionists will take no notice of the fact that a Shinner is FM. Their lives won’t have noticeably changed.
Yet another rubicon will have been crossed on the journey to a different future.
- Location
- Beragh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Michelle O'Neill is already First Minister, she has the title of deputy First Minister, but the Office of FM and dFM is equal, so both have the same power as it is a joint office etc.
Technically yes, but to ordinary voters, there’s a difference. Peter Robinson is writing recently about the “danger” of unionism (DUP internal troubles) allowing the FM post to be taken by SF. He knows well that the day when unionists lose the FM post, will be another and significant weakening of unionists electoral grip of the province.
corkman2013
Member
- Location
- co.cork
Might have Mary Lou running the show down here as well after next election. All she has to do is say she'll build more houses.
I see Ms Foster has been awarded £125,000 in damages from Dr Jessen for libel when he said she’d slept with her bodyguard
Bodyguard awarded £1m .....
Arlene Foster awarded £125k damages in Dr Christian Jessen libel case
A judge rules an unfounded tweet by Dr Christian Jessen about an alleged extra-marital affair was "outrageous".
www.bbc.com
Bodyguard awarded £1m .....
Meanwhile Sir Jeffrey alleges UDA involved in intimidation to influence the outcome of the leadership election. Good heavens man .... DUP supping with terrorists.... oh, I remember now, they were never too far away from them.
And meanwhile Arlene brands her party as nasty and regressive. Well, well, well, Arlene, but aren’t you the slow learner. DUP in its DNA is nasty and regressive. That‘s what you signed up to when you and Jeffrey scuttled out of the UUP.
And meanwhile Arlene brands her party as nasty and regressive. Well, well, well, Arlene, but aren’t you the slow learner. DUP in its DNA is nasty and regressive. That‘s what you signed up to when you and Jeffrey scuttled out of the UUP.
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Just curious. Any comment to make on the slick Sinn Fein party assassinations in Londonderry, or do you save it all up for those on the other side of the fence from you?