Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
Northern Ireland is a millstone that in the long run is destined to drift into the Republic. Demographics will see to it even if European politics doesn’t. And British sovereignty there was compromised years ago as a necessary condition of the peace process. There was no functioning executive in Stormont from 2017 to 2019 yet the place was run by the Northern Ireland Civil Service (which is independent of the British home civil service that, internally, treats its Scottish and Welsh operations as departments just like all the others). The British Government could have restored direct rule but it was considered too politically difficult to do. The British Government chose not to exert its authority in part of its own sovereign territory. That really ought to set the present situation in some sort of context.
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I think there will be a swell of opinion towards unification in the North but there are some tasty characters in the North who would not be happy. I guess it would depend if the Republic want to take on the UVF and their friends. That would be the core argument in any Republic of Ireland 'No' campaign in their referendum on the subject.
Of course, hiving off part of the UK would not be the best look for the Conservative and
Unionist Party