Sir, - A recent poll conducted for a British newspaper found that far more people on the "mainland" favour Northern Ireland becoming part of a united Ireland than wish the province to remain within the United Kingdom. This confirms what I have long suspected.
After enduring more than 30 years of terrorism over a situation most Britons neither understand nor care about, the majority wish to be done with it.
I also believe that every British government in recent years would dearly have loved to unload Northern Ireland, had it not involved a massive loss of face or, in the case of the last Conservative government, vital Ulster Unionist parliamentary votes. Tony Blair, with his majority, has no such dilemma.
What a coup to solve the problem of Northern Ireland and, at the same time, slash Britain's social security and defence expenditure.
It is the stated policy of the UK government that there will be no change in the status of the province until a majority there wish it. It is unthinkable, however, that any change could take place without the consent of all the British people, or that the Republic could assume such a burden without her citizens being similarly consulted.
Let the question, then, be put to a simultaneous referendum of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, and the Irish Republic. The politicians are getting nowhere with the peace process, and not a single round of ammunition has been put "verifiably beyond use", whatever that means. Let the people decide, and soon.
While I would presume to prejudge the outcome, I would, if I were a Lambeg drummer living in the North, be setting about widening my repertoire. - Yours, etc.,
Paul Griffin, Walton East, Clarbeston Road, Pembrokeshire.