How can we integrate Unionism into a possible United Ireland?

Considering that there aren't any discussions on a future UI and not likely to be any this decade (even posters on here can't bring themselves to discuss education, tax, social welfare or health in a united Ireland) so the unionists aren't missing out on anything.

The next census will show a unionist minority, but it will also show a smaller nationalist minority.

The Commonwealth needs to be reformed as it is not democratic. The only obvious benefit of the Commonwealth would be participation in the Commonwealth Games which I wouldn't have a problem with.

What do you mean by enhancing East-West relations?

You respect it like you respect the Polish or Ukrainian identities.

The mask has really slipped now. Rejecting the GFA as part of your plan.

Johnson spoke about turning the CW in to a trading alliance to compete with the EU. The majority here would not want to be a part of that. Would certainly need to be approved by the people via referendum and not given as an appeasement fait accompli.

Unpalatable as it may be to you, the last time we had a United Ireland was under the Act of Union. Nobody would dream of going back to that but the bare fact is that the country was violently divided as a result of the 1916 Rising and subsequent War of Independence. A peaceful transition back to a UI requires moving backwards and then forwards again together. Blanch's suggest of an east-west Commonwealth type role is eminently sensible. It's all about finding points of commonality between the communities, things we can agree on. Not things that divide.

The GFA recognises two separate identities as existing on this island. Any solution that relegates one of those identities is anathema to the spirit of the GFA. Your classification of the British identity as being no more important to this island as the Ukrainian or Polish identities therefore runs against the GFA, exposing your true sentiments.

It is a slow learning process, but eventually all will understand that the principles of the GFA require a different united Ireland to the traditional unitary singular Irish one envisaged by the exclusionary nationalists.

How did I 'relegate' it?

You respect identities blanch or you don't.

Giving the UK a role in a sovereign country is a recipe for a disaster.

Those who identitfy as British will have as much of a role as you or I, in any new country. 'Equality', which is all any citizen should require.

Well there are a number of solutions that would fit in with either of your listed options. 'Remain in the Union' can be keep the status quo with a NI Assembly supported by the British taxpayer. Create a United Ireland can be achieved in various way, including a more federal type government structure and participation in some type of Commonwealth arrangement. It can also be achieved by the 50+1 mentality and then drive the Unionist ******* back into the sea from whence they came type of thinking. Thankfully the latter is a distinct minority viewpoint, even if amplified here.

AND who is advocating politically for any of those options?

Sooner or later you need to face the reality that any option needs political support, i.e. a voice, other than that of random interneters fantasising.

No, first of all, back up your nonsense for once.

Where have I dismissed all attempts to 'preserve the British identity' in Ireland?

I have repeatedly said that the British identity resident here and what it left behind is a part of me and us. I actively help to preserve the physical remnants of it, even.

I have zero issue with those who have a British or any other identity.

You go on to lie once again by depicting me as an exclusionary nationalist who wants to drive people into the sea. Despicable debating again, that you would do that even when I predicted you would.

Ah to be fair, I was somewhat exaggerating to gently tease, Blanch. There are many ways to respect the British identity in Ireland that don't involve some sort of subservience to the United Kingdom (or what remains of it). I've given many examples on this thread, transition periods, legal protections and stronger cultural acceptance of Ulster Scots traditions would be a major area for me. I don't even rule out your suggested federal approach, even though it wouldn't be my chosen solution and I've repeatedly made clear that I'd be fine with changes to the anthem/flag to make those of a Unionist background feel more comfortable in a unified Irish state.

I don't align with Francie's 'treat them the same as any other foreign culture' even if done in a respectful way, but giving a role back to a Monarch should be anathema to a Republic, even if the current one is about as inoffensive as they come. Respecting their identity doesn't mean setting back our Republic and returning to the umbrella of monarchy.

Stronger East/West relations.....well we can see how the British government feel about that throughout the Brexit process. Respecting their identity doesn't mean going begging the British government to take an interest in them either.

Now I'll caveat this with, 'I saw it on Twitter', so a pinch of salt is certainly needed but the polled second preference voting intentions of APNI in this suggests that they're not mostly middle class, more Liberal Unionists like I had previously thought: more transfers to SDLP than any other party, more transfers to SF than to DUP and TUV combined.

Also, if (as you repeatedly say) support for SF and DUP is plummeting.....then clearly the middle DON'T like things the way they are.

What the bejaysus does the fact that we used to be part of the United Kingdom have to do with anything? And then you parrot the absolutely most ridiculously hypocritical nonsense I've read in a while. It's about finding points or commonality and things we can agree one?! Giving ANY Monarch a position of power and/or influence is hardly something we agree on or something that has ANY degree of commonality. Music, culture, history, language.....all areas we could find commonality. Abandoning the concept of our Republic to placate a tiny minority of the most hardline of Loyalists.....yeah, I think not.

And AGAIN, you keep dodging the very straightforward problems with your position that I've posited;

1) How do you square your high and mighty portrayal of yourself as on some sort of moral highground while calling for something so egregious to any democrat as valuing the vote of a Unionist at over 3 times that of a Nationalist should we follow your advice and reject Unification in the hypothetical scenario where a vote passes 75:25?

2) Do you genuinely believe that refusing to proceed with Unification at the point that 75% of people had voted for it would be LESS destabilising than proceeding with Unification should a slim majority favour it?

If you don't respond to those points this time I'll assume you can't and are more interested in taking potshots at anyone of a Nationalist persuasion than actually discussing potential solutions.

On the middle happy enough with the way things are, my view on that is simple.

The two sectarian parties bleat on and on about the constitutional question, whether it is the Protocol or a border poll, and people in the North just aren't interested in either of those anymore, just wanting to continue on as is, so yes, they are happy with the way things are, and the falling support for the two demonstrates this. Further evidence is Michelle downplaying the border poll issue as SF are smart enough (even if their online apologists are not) to see the writing on the wall on that.

Complete nonsense. There are three minorities in Northern Ireland and the only one growing is the one that identifies as Northern Irish.