Sir, - The results of the Guardian/ICM poll, which found more Britons think Northern Ireland should be part of a united Ireland than believe it belongs in the United Kingdom, illustrate the need for unionists to reflect on the legitimacy of their ideology.
These findings tell us only 26 per cent of Britons say Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland, with whom unionists share this small island, constitutionally aspires to a united Ireland. And even though the island was partitioned in such a way as to ensure a unionist majority in Northern Ireland, the latest elections indicate that over 40 per cent of the statelet aspire to a united Ireland. Against this backdrop, it is not unreasonable to suggest that unionism perpetuates tyranny of a minority.
While the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 involved holding referendums in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, there has never been a referendum in the rest of Britain to take account of those whose hard earned tax money has been sustaining Northern Ireland within the UK.
It has long been known that most Irish people want a united Ireland and unionists are well aware of this. The results of this poll now give us a better idea of what British people want. There is little point in Irish people debating with unionists about unionism. The only relevant debate is between unionism and the rest of the United Kingdom. - Yours, etc.,
Daniel Coyle, Rock Road, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth.