NI Dec 22 Assembly Election

It's an extraordinarily mean-spirited article when it comes to understanding nationalism or republicanism, to an offensive degree. But the problem there is not so much the offence as the fact that the writer's preconceptions prevent him from coming up with any kind of useful or realistic analysis of the situation of nationalism.

He is, as you say, slightly more astute when it comes to analysing the situation of unionism. But only slightly.

The most significant thing in this election is the static unionist vote which — unionists will devoutly hope, but I think they will be right — is due to a low turnout. Low turnout (same number of unionists, but a lower proportion of them voting) is not so bad as a declining number of unionists. But it's still bad. The thought that there are more unionist votes out there to be won is not very consoling if you are unable to win them. Unionism badly needs a strategy to tap what he calls the "untapped well of potential support". But, despite having identified the need for such a strategy, the author conspicuously fails to come up with any suggestion as to what it might be.

And this, I suggest, is because, while he's happy to mutter darkly about "uncomfortable truths about the values and priorities of members of the communities which support [Sinn Fein]" he's not prepared to look at why the DUP is hoovering up the votes of unionists who vote, and at why other unionists don't vote. He talks about "nationalism’s inherent thirst for the stronger stuff. Who wants fluffy, social democratic language about baby steps towards an Ireland of equals when you can have the full-fat alternative?". This is ignorant and offensive, but it at least betrays a critical attitude which he badly needs to apply to unionism. Why is political unionism increasingly repellent, even to unionists? Why is unionism unable to offer a positive, confident vision of the union? And what would have to change before unionism could do that?

Again you blame somebody else when a Unionist messes up.

I didn't notice anything particularly dishevelled about him much as I didn't notice anything similar in the two jackets Mary Lou and MoN were wearing in the clip you said they were puppet 'poster girls' for the backroom boys of the 'RA.

Again and again we see Unionists default to this kind of rethoric,

that it is all a conspiracy of the Shinners/'RA,

that Unionism is the 'victim' of Vatican/Dublin/Shinner/RA plots (add the EU and Catholic America to that list too),

that they are being deliberately outbred by Catholics having families,

that they need more than a democratic vote of the electorate,

that Unionists have to give and Nationalists have to get etc etc etc .

Danny's comments were not an abberation because he was tired, they are part of a trend.

If I were a citizen of NI I'd resent party workers from the neighbouring state interfering in my election. Just as we in the south would be pretty pissed if the Tories or British Labour Party came over here and interfered in ours.

I wonder if someone from the Republican side had made such a fool of themselves if you'd be so swift with the excuses or land in all guns blazing with your usual sense of outrage?

I could take a guess.

What if you were a passport holding 'citizen' of Ireland Furze who has an right to be an Irish citizen?

Unionists have a right to be offended, but as Stephen Fry said, 'so what if you are offended?'

Did anyone say boo when this worked the other way?

My optimistic take on the static unionist vote and the low turnout is that they are voters who are rejecting the DUP and all it stands for, but are not ready to vote Alliance yet. If they are won around to the Alliance, that will mark further progress towards normality in Northern Ireland, as the most significant long-term trend from this election is their move into third place.

I just showed you a party from what you define as a 'different state' campaigning here on behalf of FG and Labour. Was there 'outrage'?

so they are in fact then huffing. whinge until mammy gets them an icecream to keep them quiet

British Political parties have interfered in Irish affairs for centuries. But we are not talking about British politicians ( who incidentally have previously interfered in NI politics) we are talking about Irish people in Ireland . And I would say, all Irish people have every right to engage in political activity anywhere in Ireland.

But what evidence is there that politicians from Ireland did participate in the NI local elections? Can you point to any credible sources?

They have form for using handouts from Westminster as a smokescreen for capitulation, Westminster has form for playing along.

Here is a solution of mine, for what it is worth, to get stormont going.

1) establish a free port covering Belfast and Larne or Antrim/Down or maybe even all of NI https://www.gov.uk/guidance/freeports

2) heavily subsidise the NI to mainland ferries (I am assuming this can now be done as we are out of EU) it would increase trade but also ease interaction across the Union as this is one of the most expensive pieces of water in the world to cross.

3) don’t just label NI destined food ‘not for eu’, but label all food staying in Uk. Keeps the sense of one nation.

im sure I could think of a few more when these are ticked of

Would you be prepared to support a poll on the issue?

Ask the people?

Where is this rule written?

Why should you get anything? Nobody else is being bought off to obey UK law.

The vote on the last Assembly election and in these local elections show support for what has been agreed with the EU