‘Perilous’ for political unionism to forgetn the middle ground, unity event told

By Rebecca Black, Press Association

It will be at political unionism’s “peril” to forget about “small-u unionists” who are becoming increasingly apathetic, a panel discussion about Irish unity has heard.

Brexit and the prospect of a Nigel Farage-led UK Government were cited as factors that were “radicalising” some within Northern Ireland’s unionist community to consider opting for a united Ireland.

The comments came during an event titled Is Irish Unity Inevitable? as part of Féile an Phobail on Thursday.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna told those at the event at St Mary’s University College that she is finding “substantial” numbers of new members and engagers who are “not from a traditional SDLP background”, noting that identity is “less binding”, and people are “excited to build something new”.

However, she also cautioned that as well as work needed to secure a yes vote in an Irish unity referendum in Northern Ireland, effort is also needed on a parallel unity referendum in the Republic of Ireland.

“There is definitely a push factor from political unionism – hostility to Irishness, Irish culture, to ethnic diversity, LGBT issues, which absolutely switches people off,” she said.

“And there is a sense of them being a strategic disaster in terms of things like Brexit and the management of it, so people are open to persuasion.”

Ms Hanna warned against a “flip of partition” and an attitude of “we have the numbers now, and you’re stuck with it”, instead co-designing a new Ireland.

She said the Republic of Ireland has shown an “incredible capacity for change” in terms of ethnic diversity and social change, adding the “last big project is going to be embracing a tolerance of British identity and northern identity”.

“For me, reconciliation has to be a way of living; a lot of it is empathy … we have to understand this is a big thing for people. We do have to be empathetic towards people and towards the change.”

Former UUP councillor Linzi McLaren said she has experienced abuse from some in the unionist community for engaging in the debate around a new Ireland.

It is at political unionism's peril to forget about those people because there are so many of us

But she said the “potential she sees in a new Ireland for all the people of Northern Ireland and the south is so incredible that it is worth every second of the abuse I get”.

“I am certainly prepared to take it on the chin on behalf of those who are scared to speak up,” she said.

“I often say what will determine a border poll will be demographics, but also the middle ground, unionists with a small u who feel they are politically homeless because political unionism doesn’t represent them,” she said.

“It’s too extreme for them; they don’t particularly like loyalism, they have no interest in going to the bands or bonfires, are horrified by the race riots and the burning of homes, but who do they vote for?

“And also those who are so fed up with politics they almost have adopted an apathy towards politics and are sitting in the middle waiting for someone to convince them.

“It is at political unionism’s peril to forget about those people because there are so many of us.

“Being a Protestant doesn’t automatically make you a Unionist; there are lots of Protestants in that middle ground who would be more than happy to have the conversation about a new Ireland, and actually more than happy to call themselves a nationalist.”

Writer Claire Mitchell said a number of Protestants she knows are “unity curious”.

She said she feels that unionism is a “project of political conservatism”, adding that, with having a close friend who is transgender, she does not feel part of it.

“The job of the unity movement is to create safe spaces where people can explore relationships without judgment,” she said.

Ms Mitchell also referred to events such as Brexit and the prospect of a government led by Nigel Farage as “radicalising” unionists.

“If that is the government, I think people here will vote with their feet,” she said.

“It (the break-up of Britain) is in progress, it’s under way, in regions of England, Scotland and Wales, everybody is experiencing the same kind of powerlessness, everybody wants to reclaim some democratic agency.”