Thinking the Unthinkable
Deaglán de Bréadún
It would be a smart move for the DUP and UUP to present a united front to the Northern Ireland electorate. Will someone explain to me why the nationalist side cannot do the same?
I suspect nobody who reads this Blog is interested in Northern Ireland but if things get out of hand then Northern Ireland will be interested in you. A renewal of the Troubles would have implications on this side of the Border.
Once again, talk of unionist MPs supporting one side or the other at Westminster is in the air. The heretical thought strikes me that nationalists and republicans could play that game too. Is it time to rethink the republican policy of abstentionism? Will someone remind me what the rationale of it is? Scots nationalist MPs attend the House of Commons yet nobody thinks this makes Scottish independence less likely. In fact, most observers would agree, I suspect, that the Scots will get their independence a lot sooner than the North reunifies with the South on this island.
