Does The British Government Want Rid Of Northern Ireland? - Lord Alderdice

[@Deathstaroya]

Imagine being Irish and thinking or wanting to be British I’m Scottish- never British I wish Eir be unified

[@Irish780]

This guy is saying what we all knew all long .... still its satisfying to hear it out loud

[@amcc5887]

Absolutely 💯%correct 👍👍👍

[@greatest7391]

It's been said since 1921

[@steveperry8031]

Its nothing new , he is just rehashing old news. The Alliance Party are just a watered down irish nationalist party anyway .

[@davidmccormack778]

If unionists had a mind to, they could negotiate a great deal for themselves with the Irish Government.

[@Irish780]

@davidmccormack778 never happen the absolutely hate everything Irish the will not move on

[@patnavchatnav9634]

I've been saying this for more than the last twenty years. Trouble is, despite what they say in public, I don't think the Republic wants them either

[@private-private]

Right !

[@taintabird23]

I have would vote in favour, once I knew there was a plan that was realistic.

[@paullooney2522]

There is its a globalist plan,but it doesent include Irish people just the land of Ireland.@@taintabird23

[@terryj50]

The republic will have to deal with the bombs but this time it will be from the loyalists. Why would they want that.

[@lindalonergan7887]

​@SalmonOfKnowledge1you mean their land.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

_'Have the unionists in northern Ireland been living in a fantasy world for decades?'_ Is this a trick question Max? 😂

[@DisleyDavid]

No, centuries.

[@rickyp6815]

Terrence O'Neil had a grip on reality... but otherwise....

[@Billy1690-ws8jz]

Why don't you like the Unionist?

[@DisleyDavid]

@Billy1690-ws8jz Who are you suggesting doesn't like unionists? I didn't notice anyone say that. EDIT. No sensible response then. I don't hate or dislike unionists. They just need to accept that the arrangements of the last 100 years need to be reviewed. Catholics (or believers in a united independent Ireland) have (to put it mildly) been treated as second class citizens since Elizabeth I and Cromwell. If the majority want change, the people of Ireland (including the protestants) need to be heard. If Northern Ireland wishes to unite with The Republic we in England must not oppose this.

[@markhart4922]

Why are you against an ethnic people who call themselves unionists?? Do you say this about nationalists? You do know the history of Ireland and Scotland??? How the Scot’s of Ireland invaded Scotland in 7th century and colonised Scotland?? Destroyed Picts culture and murdered and enslaved the Picts?? Forced their religion upon a free people??? So remember, colonialism and slavery existed even then . That’s obvs before the English invaded Ireland in 1167 and the plantations by Cromwell Almost like shit happens??

[@ltrots2030]

As an Englishman living in Northern Ireland I’ve been saying this to people for a long time

[@taintabird23]

Do people in Northern Ireland acknowledge this or is it a surprise to them?

[@brendanmaguire4134]

Please, please keep saying it. We the Irish ( nationalists and Republican) have asked England to leave for centuries now, we have then had plenty off fights and arguements with the English about England leaving, we worked with England in the hope and a promise that England would leave, we then had a full on war trying too force England too leave and now we are in politics with England BUT ALWAYS WANTING ENGLAND TO LEAVE. so surely after all that its obvious to anybody WHO HAS A MIND OF THEIR OWN that Norn Ireland was never gonna be a real country. AND it hasn't or ever will be. 👌🙏✌🇮🇪

[@davekeating.]

Don't say it to Sammy 'no pants" Wilson

[@ltrots2030]

Some people are shocked. But they’re the same people who don’t have any understanding of the outside world.

[@martinmcdonald4207]

No doubt you took some abuse for your views from a certain type in NI !

[@garydeane9783]

Should have never been there to begin with . Disastrous affair all round

[@neilbower9052]

the english don't like losing, that's why they STOLE the 6 counties from them

[@Sameoldfitup]

Not really it was to protect England from invasion

[@christinequinn5355]

@@SameoldfitupNonsense. It was to appease Planter Unionist Armed Traitors who refused to accept an 80% Majority FULL IRELAND VOTE FOR independence from England in 1918. They threatened ARMED REBELLION against the United Kingdom. Westminster BACKED DOWN, and agreed to create a GERRYMANDERED, SECTARIAN PROTESTEST STATE of Six Counties, BRUTALLY carved out of the NINE Counties of the Irish Provence of Ulster. This unnatural ABBERATION has been an unmitigated DISASTER for the last 100 YEARS. The country is called Ireland, and those born in those northeastern counties are Irish, whether they like it or not. And as for REUNIFICATION, the entire Four Provinces and 32 Counties are already a functioning, geographic island called IRELAND.

[@joeduffy3309]

@@Sameoldfitup eh?

[@nightrunk]

​@@Sameoldfitupplease explain??

[@grahamelliott6041]

It's like trying to get the last guest at a party to leave

[@feidhlimidhmacanaltha3644]

Nah that'll be Wales

[@joanesp100]

Lol!! They are certainly not getting the hint that they are not wanted in the UK and and their crusade to save the union is certainly not been received very well

[@boldford]

It might be like a bad small hanging around for a very long time.

[@edwardkuenzi5751]

More like the last inmate from an old prison that's been there so long they cannot cope with freedom.

[@freneticness6927]

Why dont you leave england

[@LOGOS422]

NI is a yearly £10b-£12b weight around Britain's neck. Times are getting rougher in Britain, and people in England won't want that money going to six Irish counties.

[@Parker_Douglas]

You English thinking you pay for everything why don’t you have a referendum & leave GB . The Celtic nations should stick together fk England

[@Zabzim]

The problem is that it’s would cost the Republic of Ireland a lot more than the £10-£12 billion it costs Britain to keep Northern Ireland so Sinn Fein be damned that’s not likely to happen. Mostly because Ireland GDP is 478.24 billion meanwhile the UKs GDP is 2.274 trillion which means the £12 billion the Uk spend on Northern Ireland is really a drop in our nations budget, we spend twice that on defence, four times that on schools and a staggering thirty one and a third of that on health! It’s the equivalent of a Netflix and Amazon prime subscription on your household budget, you would certainly be better off drop them but the cost is really insignificant and they bring you a lot of joy.

[@Kitiwake]

The reason for the cost is that NI is suckling at the tit of the British exchequer. It's a dependent. Ok, but in a united Ireland it will become part of the Irish economy, enhancing and pulling it weight with the rest of the country. I'm sure you are aware that some studies, several years old now, put the eventual dividend of a united Ireland at 38 billion euro inbound to the Irish exchequer.

[@Zabzim]

@@Kitiwake they would need that as a united Ireland would need rise defence spending to 20 billion euros a year, probably even more to catch up to the rest of Europe. They currently spend 1.5 billion euros on defence having no real need too as the UK is mostly in the way of any real threat and had a vested interest in the Ireland but a united Ireland would put an end to most of that.

[@dredd1981]

@@Kitiwake Poppycock! NI would be as much of a drain on ireland as it is on the UK. If you think that the £10bn deficit NI currently runs will disappear in a UI scenario then you're insane. But it's all academic, nationalists and even some republicans will vote with their pockets, they're far better off in the UK than they would be in a UI. A UI is a pipe dream, something for bitter old men to talk about under their breath at the fellons club in west belfast. Mark my words, it will never happen!

[@keithspriggs4614]

Max, There is a very specific point in time that everybody has missed that frightened the unionists’ parties. It was about 3 weeks before the restoration of the Stormont Assembly. It was when the talk was that the Irish Government would be help coming to run Northern Ireland. In simple terms, the Unionists were not running scared, put petrified their bodies. Furthermore, look at the strategic investment that the Irish Government has made in Northern Ireland. Funding the A5 Motorway. University of Ulster, Derry campus. Casement Park. Increasing the train frequency between Belfast and Dublin. I would agree that the London Government is planning to slowly offload the responsibility of Northern Ireland to the Dublin Government.

[@frankoneill5675]

Erasmus students, funding the education of nurses

[@taintabird23]

The new children's hospital in Dublin will serve all 32 counties.

[@ciaranirvine]

Some other items: Dublin part-funds Altnagelvin hospital in Derry. The ESB also already owns most of the north's electricity generation and distribution networks :)

[@fitzstv8506]

The new children's hospital in Dublin is planned also to be an international centre of excellence in child healthcare.@@taintabird23

[@Vandean-o3t]

A5 Motorway, is that not a toll road, i thought tolls were only on bridges but holy god Ireland has a good lot of them. I'm sure the north dose not give two hoots about the A5

[@Balloon_Juice]

I wish "they" felt the same about Scotland. Could easily dissolve the union. But they wont. Not through any love of the Scots but because of oil money and strategic territory. You hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately the threat of violence does work. Why else was extra billions pumped into the north of Ireland and being given the best of both worlds of access to the European AND British markets. Meanwhile Scotland gets steamrollered over in Westminster because we try and do things democratically and by the book. I'm not advocating violence, just pointing out a fact.

[@grahamelliott6041]

Couldn't agree more

[@Ooze-cl5tx]

Look at all the english colonies , did england let any of them go without violence ?

[@springer3783]

In practice it’s the worst of both worlds , and Ni is the lowest funded part of the uk and Scotland is the highest

[@alanbrown9178]

@@paullarne "When circumstances change, I change my mind. What do you do Sir?" John Maynard Keynes, political economist, 1883-1946

[@eddieportmore1]

The English has a grip over Scotland , Settlers, the lowlands /The Balmoral Estate, loyal to the crown .In Scotland .Its not just about the big ticket stuff ,nuclear subs and oil . territory. For a long time in Ireland There were ,wars and famine and emigration .In recent memory, ,not a week, or day went by ,a bomb ,shooting, violence .In the 2014 Scottish referendum ,i could only compare this event with ,the easter rising of 1916 .What it took, For the south of Ireland .To leave the the union . . /And the Culture war /the troubles in northern Ireland .To get to this point .The snp party ,knows that it going to take ,many more decades ,for Scotland's independence to become, reality .

[@Delta-fs8jm]

I have been saying for years that England would love to get rid of Northern Ireland.

[@cjon6898]

And so have many, many other people

[@susanmoriarty7533]

They can’t do it now tho it’s been too long

[@susanmoriarty7533]

The republican can’t afford it

[@private-private]

And I have been saying for years that Ireland would love to never have it! We are not willing to pay the billions and billions for it. You refused to give it to Ireland 100 years ago. Okayyyyyy! 😀

[@timonsolus]

@@private-private : Northern Ireland, if it separated from the UK with Irish reunification as the goal, would be eligible for a big increase in EU funding to replace the Westminster funding it received before. Even the US government might be willing to help out to keep NI afloat in the short term.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

It's NI, Wales and Scotland who want to get rid of English Westmonster

[@luminousfractal420]

​​@dondoodatthere's one in the works. A celtic union is always picking up more support year on year. Let England be little usa if it wants.

[@aelthric]

@dondoodat England are keeping the Tories in Power, Scotland hasn't voted for Tories since 1955 and now that Labour are just Red Tories Scotland will not vote for them either... Little englanders always needing someone to hold their pathetic spineless hands or take the blame for spineless Tory england continually voting for Tories...

[@lukemclellan2141]

I'd go so far as saying most of the English want rid of westmonster too!

[@doreenhollywood7459]

@dondoodat Our problem is that most of england votes either tory or labour and both parties will not let Scotland go. We have not voted tory in 0ver 50 years and they only won 2 seats in last election here. They got in by the list seats for the other 3

[@doreenhollywood7459]

@@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp The tories nave always been worse than any other party

[@ClannCholmain]

I’d wager that there’s a lot of people in Britain who find Northern Ireland an embarrassing reminder of their invasive immigration past.

[@Defaultname0000]

Ironic considering the amount of Irish whom "invaded" the United States, stealing native land.

[@luminousfractal420]

Well it was quite a while ago, not really anything any current person would feel personally guilty about. But that said I'm from one of the celtic nations and I want out of this abusive marriage. I want Ireland to be Irish, I want all colonies given their freedoms (I'm living in one of the usa's atm) even worse abuses as they don't limit themselves... Tories adore that, the not being accountable while trampling people underfoot like some status symbol.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp it’s fascinating how the unionist people here who have mostly never been to Britain think they are more British than the British. What’s even more fascinating is that their ancestors opposed unification with Britain, and then even after they starved they supported the same union that contributed to this demise and destruction. They were persecuted because of their religious beliefs and therefore left for the 13 colonies to escape persecution by the Irish Protestant Ascendancy, which they were also not a part of. You blaming the Irish people for having their private property confiscated by their own government and given to colonists is a little weird and rich. Tell me more about how the Irish people were the ones responsible for the destruction of the native people in North America.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@paullarne the only reason why Northern Ireland exists is because they took up arms against the democratic will of Westminster. They are about as democratic minded as the confederacy was, they murdered people who wanted ‘one man, one vote’. Which brought about the biggest movement of people since the end of the Second World War up to that time.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@paullarne the only reason why Northern Ireland exists is because they took up arms against the democratic will of Westminster. They are about as democratic minded as the confederacy was, they opposed people who wanted ‘one man, one vote’. Which brought about the biggest movement of people since the end of the Second World War up to that time.

[@jameskerr1954]

Partition was always supposed to be a 'temporary' arrangement. It should never have lasted this long.

[@private-private]

But it did James. Coulda woulda shoulda.... It did last this long whatever that reason is which matters none now.

[@jameskerr1954]

@@private-private I guess you're right. What matters now is that partition won't last much longer 🙂

[@steveperry8031]

@@jameskerr1954 "Partition" wow thats a word from the past , just like "plantation" . I have news for you jameskerr1954 its 2024 , and its time to move on .

[@jameskerr1954]

@@steveperry8031 I am moving on. I'm looking forward to such words as 'reunification' being a reality instead.

[@steveperry8031]

@@jameskerr1954 Keep dreaming Jimmy. I have heard from sources that conservative Catholic voters like the DUP because of its stance on a lot of social issues and the DUP are getting smart , attending Irish Dancing schools . The future is bright for people who adapt .

[@tonylennon7979]

Yes, Max. You have it absolutely correct. Britain realises it will have a closer friendship and a far better trading relationship in the event of a United Ireland . A pragmatic DUP will be pushed into accepting a unity referendum on negotiated Britaish/ Irish / EU severance terms .

[@Kitiwake]

The DUP just put everyone off. Like sour milk.

[@marcokite]

The English would love to get rid of Scotland.

[@janettetaylor8760]

I love to get rid of UK government but the fuckers will sod of will they

[@audreymcgready4329]

This is not. Never has been and never will be "A Union". Simple as that. Not in my eyes anyway. The sooner WM agrees the better.

[@luminousfractal420]

I see it as an abusive marriage and I want a divorce, the black eyes and hobbling takes its toll.

[@RedPhone-mz5lv]

True Scotland Wales a d Northen Ireland were invaded

[@RebeccaGriffin-b8n]

The British will have to redesign the Union Jack, because it will not have the Irish cross of St Patrick anymore.

[@richardthomas2818]

Setting aside any economic or political considerations, I suspect that most folk (like me) would be glad to see the back of the Abominable No Men of the DUP and Kate Hoey to boot.

[@atverde]

This has been apparent for a very long time. It is interesting to hear to it being vocalised and I wonder if more will share this view openly.

[@tomwaller6893]

Dear DUP. Your Brexit has cost you any respect you had in Scotland. It also costs you votes from the pro-EU population who live in Northern Ireland. Your only way forward is to re-unify with the Republic of Ireland or move to England. No point in moving to Scotland, where you are not welcome. We do not do stupid, and Brexit IS STUPID.

[@jdfiend]

It was a 4 country vote not just northern Ireland

[@colloquialsoliloquy6391]

​@@jdfiendIt was a one country vote ,England. Scotland the north and Wales could have overwhelmingly voted to remain ,yet still have lost to a high English leave vote. If it were a democratic vote then a victory or loss would have required a 3 to 1 vote via country.

[@LostSouls-t2u]

Wa NKER Weep on 😂

[@nautilusshell4969]

@@jdfiend Hmmmm......not seeing too many people really agreeing with you on this one.

[@iann23]

What evidence from the rest of Europe convinces you that the EU are doing any good?

[@obtuse1291]

Saw a wonderful quote today, which might be pertinent in the case of NI and Scotland: Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of their oppressors. ASSATA SHAKUR. Feminist revolutionary.

[@liamm.1431]

The great are only great when they have you on your knees. James Connolly. Born 1868 murdered 1916.

[@geroutathat]

Baltic way? they got free by 2 million people holding hands. The velvet revolution? They got free by jingling their keys over their head?

[@maureenurquhart]

And what a great Man he was a true Working Man’s Hero RIP Soar Alba and Erin Go Braugh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@StevieZero]

"Many a mickle maks a muckle" "GRANDPAW BROON" "Scottish philosopher"

[@mtgibbo2792]

Oppressors? You’re about thirty years too late mate. If there was a referendum and NI voted for re-unification, there’d be very people in the UK wanting to block it.

[@garybarrett4881]

Should never have partitioned Ireland in the first place. It has never worked other than the period in between the Good Friday Agreement and Brexit which reopened old wounds.

[@odunadhaigh]

Yes, all Ireland voted itself out of the UK in the 1918 General Election, but it wasn't, at first, "allowed" to leave. Instead a war of independene had to be fought, and then Prime Minister David Lloyd George threatened "immediate and terrible war" if the Irish side were to continue their struggle to get the last 6 north eastern counties out of the UK to join with the 26 already obtained.

[@johnrodgers2018]

@@odunadhaigh I think Michael Collins got the best deal he could and the UK kept the most profitable ( industrial ) part of the union.

[@greatest7391]

@@johnrodgers2018 Collins was a tout

[@johnrodgers2018]

would NI take a semi autonomous role? i'm not sure. What I am sure is they voted in favor of Europe and that would come with a united Ireland.

[@roderickmain9697]

The problem from Westminster looking out is that there are rebellious regions of the UK that need to be kept in line. Looking to Westminster from the Kingdoms and Principality people see how Westminster treats them i.e. as rebellious serfs that need to be kept in line and they want out of that. Thats not to say that everybody in the constituent parts is of this mind. Some people are obviously happy being ignored and want to stay in a union where they can be ignored. I would suggest that it wouldnt take much in Scotland, to sway some of them towards independence. England's haughty indifference towards the Union might actually stretch further in the case of NI where the logical step of reunifying the whole Island would take it off its hands.

[@geroutathat]

They would love it, they would sell it to scotland and wales as "With northern ireland gone we have 3 billion for you each for your budgets", and they could mean it, and pocket 3-4 billion for England, basically buying support in Scotland and Wales back.

[@paulwilson2651]

Can England do the same with Scotland? Oh England can't it relies on Scotland's assets too much.

[@colincampbell4261]

Rain and midgies.

[@obtuse1291]

​@@colincampbell4261 just wait until they are selling you water. 😂

[@odunadhaigh]

England isn't a sovereign country; it's part of one. It doesn't have an army, a government, a prime minister or even postage stamps. What you seem asking is can one of the four counties of the UK, namely England, by fostering terrorism against Scotland persuade it to leave the UK, while Wales and Northern Ireland sit on the side lines watching this resumption of the bloody hatred that existed in medieval times between England and Scotland.

[@mmcc5846]

​@@ecaeas4439what do England produce again you can produce you get most of your water from Wales and you English even polluting that we subsidize the UK

[@simonmcparland8230]

​@deceiver3988 😂😂arrogant bellend ,the very reason we want out

[@mickoneill6233]

Excellent video as usual. Also, congratulations to the Irish people for all of our people who overwhelmingly and comprehensively defeated the proposed amendments to our constitution yesterday! 🇮🇪

[@markwilkie3677]

No oil in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile King Charles has appointed his brother Edward to `the Order of the Thistle` - Scotland's highest honour, to celebrate his 60th birthday. 🤢

[@happyslappy5203]

« King is secretly profiting from the assets of thousands of dead people to upgrade king’s property empire via archaic custom: « King’s estate collecting assets of the dead is “a bizarre remnant of feudal Britain”, says Mayor of Greater Manchester.» (23 Nov 2023)

[@alfsmith4936]

Lot of pricks on a thistle..

[@audreymcgready4329]

Not my King. And God won't be saving him either.

[@johnmcilrath3637]

Did you not approve of sinn fein cosing up to him at Hillsborough then to make Jeffery look silly?​@@audreymcgready4329

[@Bolanboogie10]

Is Edward the closet one?.

[@raykennedy-k8o]

We don't need triumphalism. We need reconciliation. We need to build a new Ireland with everyone included. Let's build this new country together. We need everyone on board. What's the rush? Let's build the new country together at our own pace. Why frighten people? Let's build a country together that we can be proud of. As a southern Irishman I want to see unionists included. Their time is not up. We need them in the new Ireland we want to build. I'd be glad to have them.

[@SG3Gunner]

The problem is, unionists, don't WANT to be included. To them, being subjects of the british sovereign is more important and they would likely fight hand nail and tooth to retain that identity. But in time, their number will diminish, we can see this already in recent census data. Personally, I say just wait, time is on the Republic's side.

[@stefanscally4449]

Very well said, exactly the sentiment we need.

[@batcollins3714]

Scotland needs to dump the Union and enter the EU as a sovereign country.

[@knight20102]

This has long been predicted as far back as Nostradamus in the 16th century :)))

[@colincampbell4261]

Why leave one bad union and join another?

[@johnjephcote7636]

Scotland must then be prepared for wagon trains of English emigrants fleeing their unwanted country and hoping for a decent and humane future.

[@jounik]

There is one functional union of nations in Europe and the Unraveling Kingdom isn't it.​@@colincampbell4261

[@eyesopen7946]

Scotland should dump the Union and join the BRICS Nations which is the future and already bigger than the EU

[@seanmccloskey1981]

To be fair most of England already think that NI is gone and no longer part of the UK. Lol

[@dwdei8815]

It is not a union, it is a possession. And yeah, I think the petulant child has gotten bored of its toy.

[@michaellawler3016]

We should have always been united, our little island.

[@liamm.1431]

As Frankie Boyle said the English think that dividing a small island in two is madness, except if that island is Ireland.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Athaontaithe!🇮🇪💚

[@EpicAelflaed]

@@liamm.1431well he should’ve said the British government because we English never wanted the division. It’s greed from the politicians

[@liamm.1431]

@89leemills when Irish or Scottish people talk about the "English" I'm fairly confident they mean tories(a minority in England) most English people are well liked and are Micheal Palins and David Attenboroughs, unfortunately it's the 30p Lees who inflict themselves on Irish people, usually on holiday and usually being told what the trouble with you lot is. Sorry mate, but it's the gabshites who are letting the rest of you down.

[@MartinJames389]

Some Unionists recognise the reality you describe, Max, but by no means all. The "No Surrender" mentality remains strong.

[@esioanniannaho5939]

Yep but generational differences are appearing. Witness GAA and Irish language classes in East Belfast.

[@obbhoy]

The loyalists belong in the 1690's & they can't get out of it, sad orange bxxxxxxx

[@klawlor3659]

Give it another 10 years and GAA, Irish language classes, unionist politics and all that jazz will be consigned to the dustbin. Only a matter of time.

[@MartinJames389]

@@klawlor3659GAA won't be in any dustbin. They're great games.

[@johndevoy5792]

GAA, Irish language classes...and 'all that jazz'... in a dustbin?? Are you for real? Unionist politics may have one foot in the bin but certainly not the others.@@klawlor3659

[@sharontyler9751]

I think the referendum day is being railroaded. Key points will have to be addressed; 1. Unification - Cannot occur unless the Protestant population 'buy-in'. If forced, they will become entrenched, meaning troubles could continue. 2. Finance - Massive cost to handover and sustain services, would need to be worked out, firstly from Britain and then by EU. 3. Unification II - Will the southern population 'buy-in'? Fear of the unknown. Impact to current economic and political stability. South has huge local issues, housing, immigration, education, health services, etc before grappling with unification. 4. Finance/Investment - Dependent on 1 and 3. A truly unified Ireland and people (regardless of religion or race) could benefit massively. I would see the EU being fully supportive and of course America. HOWEVER, IF there is a sniff of division, sectarian, political or otherwise, Ireland could be set adrift. EU/US would shrug their shoulders and say, 'well, we tried' and UK would be laughing, aloud. Disclaimer: These are just broad points and just my opinion. Am fully aware of the layers of complication, that apply to each of the points listed above.

[@ciarand2823]

We're costing them a fortune, we're not worth the brexit hassle

[@odunadhaigh]

Unfortunately there are about a dozen other 2 million population pockets of the United Kingdom that are "costing them a fortune" including quite a few in the north of England.

[@aengusryan5948]

Roughly 10 billion per year. NI hasn't had a surplus since 1966 !!!!!!

[@dv86boom11]

Britain out of Ireland 🇮🇪

[@lindalonergan7887]

and everyone else in.

[@p-james]

So you're happy with the DUP sitting in Dáil Èireann?

[@dv86boom11]

@@p-james like I said Britain out of Ireland

[@lindalonergan7887]

@@p-james I'd prefer the dup than sinn fein in dail eireann but it's unlikely they'd lower themselves to that level.

[@williamwallace4924]

All Irish out of Britain.

[@mandycouchbean]

Max you're my hero of the week!

[@geraldfitzgibbon7428]

And scotland as well as defence ports.has gas and oil. Where as NI only cost london money

[@springer3783]

Most of the uk gas is in English waters and the pipeline from Norway goes into England , you leave the uk then your lights go out and heating goes off without the gas supply. Scotland has no important infrastructure and England can import oil

[@Mark-Haddow]

​@@springer3783 That was utter gibberish. 😂

[@springer3783]

@@Mark-Haddow 👍

[@aa-xg3ct]

England imports everything, food, gas. oil, electricity and in the future water...LOL@@springer3783

[@springer3783]

@@Mark-Haddow Do you want to know an interesting fact, what commodity has held the most steady value over the last centuries , hint it’s not a precious metal .

[@83554]

I really hope Jim Allister is watching this😊

[@nickd4310]

The reasons Unionists wanted to remain in the UK have become outdated. The Republic is no longer backward, impoverished and priest-ridden. The UK is no longer a world power. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland has fallen behind economically and politically.

[@lipsee100]

Quite honestly I doubt the Goverment wants rid of North of Ireland,but in my opinion the British people do!

[@Konrad-z9w]

The paradox of Brexit is that you can have only 2 of these at the same time: leaving the EU, unity of the UK, GFA. This paradox has never been acknowledged by Brexiteers, but eventually reality hits and you have to actually choose.

[@Parker_Douglas]

Brexit was all about English nationalism. Scotland didn’t vote for Brexit we were lied to during the Scottish national referendum we were promised we would remain in Europe thus Scotland should demand we’re having another one England can like it or lump it . Scotland can never trust Westminster government they’re snakes.

[@susanmccusker6386]

Think we all know this they can berly keep themselves

[@Friskni]

Britain fear that the loss of N.I. would cause a domino effect as wel.

[@bumblingborisbuffoon6259]

What amazes me mostly is, not the fact that the British stole a chunk of Ireland and drew an imaginary border across it, but that they actually thought they could keep it forever.

[@ciaradonnelly4627]

Britain was in the process of giving Ireland up completely 100 years ago, it was the Ulster Unionists in the North that put a stop to what Westminster wanted to do

[@one_eyed_odin]

The British were good at that sort of thing tbh and not only in Ireland

[@taintabird23]

When partition was agreed between Belfast and London (nationalists were not consulted), the British government assumed it would be temporary and that unity would happen in a few years. They never expected to be landed with the place forever.

[@patrickporter1864]

Not England the tories. The gerrymandered northern Ireland to gerrymander the Uk in txhegir favour.

[@jmo8934]

Theyve been keen to hand it back for quite a while now. It’s just about the how and how to do it with as little disruption as possible.

[@tadget0566]

I’m a unionist and I’ve known this for years, the way Northern Ireland was set up with its own parliament instead of being integrated into the rest of the UK. The British government thought N. Ireland would last 20 years at most the change was WW 2 when Ireland still a British dominion remained neutral the British government who has always been naive about Ireland and who had just left the 3 RN treaty ports then Northern Ireland became strategically important. Personally I believe the future will be not British or Irish but a mixture of both as neither side wants a return of the troubles nor the full burden of Northern Ireland

[@michaelmcardle]

Think I'm right in saying that David Cameron did say he wanted to 'remove the northern Irish burden from the British tax payer' in his 1st election.

[@tomwaterer5291]

As an Englishman with Irish and Scottish ancestry, I agree that a United Ireland is just a matter of time. The UK government subsidies NI with about £10 billion annually and can do without that cost. My proposal would be : NI and the Republic reunite, subject to a majority being in favour on both sides of the border, The subsidy is tapered off and the economic integration is assisted by EU funding, The new United Ireland joins NATO as part of the deal.

[@IrishSon]

Better still, Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom for the foreseeable future. Britain continues to subsidise Northern Ireland to the tune of £13bn per annum. For Ireland, unification with Northern Ireland is neither inevitable nor necessary. There will be no New Ireland.

[@chriswright3179]

A United Ireland appears to me to be for once going with the flow of history. Perhaps giving up a presence across the Irish Sea will allow us to focus on our relationship with Scotland and Wales and, indeed the regions of England to form a better United Kingdom.

[@faithlesshound5621]

Thanks to the antics of the DUP, most people in England, Scotland and Wales are heartily sick of having Northern Ireland and its politics thrust under their noses. The "Traditional Unionist Voice," if it is ever heard at Westminster, will push them even harder towards giving the rump of Ulster back to Ireland. There are a few zealots, like the late Enoch Powell, who would die in a ditch to keep it under the British Crown, but the less said about them and him the better.

[@12bigredd]

its the worst kept secret in whitehall lol thats why boris gave it away in brexit terms lol

[@kevonslims7269]

You’ll see unionist in Westminster crying about the UK government eroding their position in the union.

[@edhutton8910]

Max, you are always measured and right in how you present these vids!👏

[@patobrien6364]

The South, doesn't need the headache of Northern Ireland

[@taintabird23]

Nor does it need the headache of the border.

[@Craicfox161]

@@taintabird23the invisible one?

[@fishyq5077]

I'm alright Jack -- there is nothing sadder than a partitionist Irish person. I have had 100 years of freedom and I am enjoying it, screw my fellow Irish people. Shame, shame, shame.

[@Ryan-fq9dj]

@@taintabird23what exactly is the headache of the border? That statement baffles me

[@taintabird23]

@@Ryan-fq9dj The border has caused nothing but problems on the island of Ireland since 1920. It has been a headache, whether it has been for economic reasons, social reasons, smuggling or Brexit - the border has been a problem.

[@Nuada1916]

Given the poltical turmoil in the ROI rn, it's seeming ever more likely that a conservative 32 county united Ireland where the irish are put first may happen. No more wokers, no more Ausländer and no more angry Prods. Sin é, is linn an tír seo, tiocfaidh ár lá 🇮🇪.

[@Engie50Limerick]

1 spanner in the cog, who says we in the republic want the north back with all the hassle and costs involed? those muppets (unionists) cant accept the have 1 of the best trade deals in the world, we also had a referendum giving up our claim on the north

[@taintabird23]

Opinion polls.

[@taintabird23]

@@Ryu-lz6rq What?

[@notrut]

Re-Ask the question of the GB Electorate .... not what Royals and Gov want.

[@DavidShepheard]

I think that one of the biggest problems for the United Kingdom is that too many English voters, are aware of the fact that the policies of the Tory Party are complained about in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and parts of England, but keep voting for a party that claims to be "better at the economy", instead of switching votes to a party that says it wants to "increase local investment across the UK". It's not just a NI problem. The same people - in England - have been buying into the "scrounger myth" for decades and enabling governments that punch down at poorer people. When I was younger, there were constantly (unpleasant) people saying that "people can not get council houses because young girls are deliberately getting pregnant to get one" or that "asylum seekers were getting council houses". That's not being said so much now, as the idea of being able to rent a council house is being erased from history. Now focus is on being able to "afford to buy" and poorer people are irrelevant. The Tories used to pretend to care about people being secure in their homes. Now it's clear to a lot more people that they wanted to destroy the nationalised rental stock, to make private landlords earn more money. Back when Ken Livingstone was around (and wasn't saying weird things) the talk of Northern Ireland was always about "not giving in to terrorism", and people who reached out to Republicans to try to start a peace protest were portrayed as being "terrorist sympathisers". But, the peace process was possible and it could have been done years or decades earlier. And many people who got murdered could be alive today. And people living in England need to understand that English Tory MPs were happy to let ordinary people in Northern Ireland and in England suffer the consequences of Tory dick-waggling talk. We need people living in England to wake up and understand what the people of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have been saying for a long time - that the Tory Party is a toxic political party that takes money out of the pockets out of poor people and driving people - including people in England - into poverty and food bank usage. People in England - who embraced the principle of enlightened self-interest, would have wanted the Good Friday Agreement to have happened earlier. But anger about the IRA was intentionally stirred up so that English voters would vote against what was good for England (as well, of course, against what was good for people in Northern Ireland). The fight for peace was a long one. But sadly, when Westminster should have been working with the Northern Ireland Assembly to make NI as good as it could possibly be, they were content to let the Unionists cock-block their devolved government. It really is time for regular voters to wake up and understand that politicians who incite hatred with dick-waggling talk and victim-blaming talk are not good people. And it's time for voters to understand that talking out bills and cock-blocking elected bodies, like the Northern Ireland Assembly, are anti-democratic moves and to call for those things to be criminalised. In a democracy, you can not always win. And in a country such as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is the responsibility of every voter to make sure that the politicians they vote for are also going to look after citizens who didn't vote the way they voted. We need to live in a United Kingdom where *every* party wants Northern Ireland to do well. People in England who wake up and who understand enlightened self-interest, need to realise that we are in a climate emergency and that there are ships and planes going between the island of Ireland and mainland Europe and that a joint project to connect the Eurostar network to the island of Ireland, via England and Wales could see cargo trains and high speed passenger trains moving through Great Britain to help people in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland radically lower their carbon footprint. They need to understand that - regardless of what happens, with respect to Unification in Ireland - a rail corridor through England and Wales is something that can permanently improve the situation for three of the countries in the UK. And they need to understand that, even if the project starts off as a RoI+NI+GB project and eventually turns into a Unified Ireland+Great Britain project, it's still something that should be done as quickly as possible. That's just one thing where enlightened self-interest suggests that residents of England should back what is good for people in the Republic of Ireland and Norther Ireland. I'm sure there are countless other examples. One thing I would hold the Unionists to account on, is that they have spent so much time focusing on cock-blocking Sean Finn and so much time waggling their dicks at the Republic of Ireland, that they have not been talking to the people of England to sell them on the idea of "backing the Union". Where the SNP has been fighting for Scottish people (or at least coming across as fighting for them) and Plaid Cymru has been fighting for Welsh people (or at least coming across as fighting for them), the Unionists have been using their power in Westminster to back Tory policies and cock-block the Labour Party. That's a real let down by the Unionist movement. They should have been shaking voters in England by the shoulders, talking about the strength that Northern Ireland could bring to the United Kingdom...and trying prove to voters in Northern Ireland that they could bring more economic benefits to Northern Ireland than Sean Finn could. Instead they have taken their place in the Tory "pyramid of power" and encouraged people in Northern Ireland to punch down on other Irish people, while corrupt Tories move money out of the UK to off-shore bank accounts. If the Union was trying to do good things, both on the Northern Ireland side and on the Great Britain side, all sorts of wonderful rolling programs could be happening, right now, in Northern Ireland. But sadly, the United Kingdom is probably going to be remembered much more for dick-waggling douchbags, than for progress towards a fair society, with an improved carbon footprint. Regardless of what happens with regards to Northern Ireland and Unification, the people of England, Wales and Scotland need the island of Ireland to succeed. (And likewise the Republic of Ireland needs Northern Ireland and Great Britain to succeed.) It's time for people to stop waggling their dicks at each other and to absolutely stop burning public money doing things that block the interests of other people. We need all the people in the British Isles to cooperate on international levels on Europe-wide problems, like the challenges of Climate Change and lowering pollution. And people living in England, who are a bigger voting block in the United Kingdom, need to do their part to get rid of dick-waggling and cock-blocking politicians, so that democracy in the UK actually tries to do good things at all times.

[@stephenmcdonald4708]

Great video Max but I think the British Government will have to pay for reunification and continue to pay for the burden of the 6 counties for years to come as they were responsible .

[@geroutathat]

There will be nothing for them to pay for, the people in the north and south will make a success of the north.

[@johnm2714]

Responsible for what? It was the Troubles that broke investment into Northern Ireland. When the North and the South decide to form a whole once more, it will be the Republic, apparently one of the wealthiest countries in the world now, and the EU who can take over management of the extremists on both sides. I wish them luck.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Indeed, as I said in a comment elsewhere this is what France did in Algeria.

[@fishyq5077]

@@johnm2714 No, it was the partition of the island, creating divisions where none had ever existed. Then, there was the apartheid system - give the job to a protestant rather than to the best qualified - that was always going to work out well (sarcasm). The brain drain of smart and hard working catholics was another outcome of the sectarian statelet. The Troubles were a consequence of the evil system that was propped up by London.

[@obbhoy]

The brits are responsible FFS, its Ireland & they invaded, what crack you smoking pal 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@redpiller6050]

We should've just let the whole lot go back in 1922 and let Dublin deal with unionist uprisings in the north.

[@chrisMthepoet]

I really feel that if the UK and the USA got together and offered serious funding, over an extended period, say 10 years, if all parties could agree to unification, then I think unification would be a real possibility.

[@taintabird23]

@omlette0 Why would that be a challenge?

[@rapier1954]

You must be crazy if you think anyone on this side of the Atlantic in the US is going to give one dime towards Irish unification when the demographics and the Brexit disaster unfolding in the UK make it inevitable free of charge. There are unionists I know who want it already and that is borne out by the fact that 56% of the people in NI voted against Brexit. Now that Brexit is proving to be the disaster for business people feared more and more people will want to leave the UK,

[@Hardtruth1945]

2 questions. If Northern Ireland leaves the Uk there will probably be thousands of people from NI that will jump ships and head to the UK what will happen with them? And if Northern Ireland leaves the Uk it will give Scotland the kick it needs to do the same something the government don't want. So England could end up with Immigration for northern Ireland and Scotland leaving. A big mess indeed.

[@paulmorrison3263]

Most British people aren't even aware that N.Ireand is actually part of the UK.

[@luminousfractal420]

👀 If you say so

[@lukemclellan2141]

Bullshit.

[@mikeya983]

@@lukemclellan2141 Sad, but true.

[@lukemclellan2141]

@@mikeya983 prove it

[@paulmorrison3263]

@@lukemclellan2141 Even Princess Diana had 'obvious ignorance of' Northern Ireland, unsealed Irish note says. Joseph Small, the then Irish ambassador in London, wrote that Diana told him, "with obvious ignorance of, or disregard for, constitutional niceties: 'I was in your country yesterday!' "27 Dec 2023

[@brucemacdougall6121]

The fact they believe that they have a right to prevent self-determination for Scotland is the problem.

[@neilmcbeath954]

Scotland was given the chance to decide on self-determination and voted "No". That was when the SNP was riding far higher than it is now.

[@richardbarton2709]

The majority of English, Welsh, Scots people do not pay much interest or follow N. Ireland politics or care.

[@eamonnfanton2165]

The British paid the planters (either financially or by giving them land) to move to Northern Ireland, and then there were some that were not given a choice as land was being depopulated on the Britch mainland in order to raise sheep, as wool was far more profitable than rents from tenant farmers. Most of the protestants that went to northern Ireland were not going there by choice, it was the best choice of some really bad options. Why then haven't the British offered to reverse this process? It would be far cheaper than keeping things the way they are now. Yes they would have to provide free houses to those that would leave Northern Ireland to return to the British mainland, but some of that money would be recouped by selling the now vacant properties to either nationalists that want to be in a United Ireland or to the Irish Government. It would be a win win, the Unionist could now truly become British and there would be a United Ireland without any conflict. Of course I'm waiting for a response to my comment by some unionist that would complain claiming that they could not possibly give up their 'Irish' heritage (which would be seriously funny if the troubles had not cost so many lives), or give some other lame excuse, but the reality would be that their bigotry and self importance would not be tolerated on the British mainland and they know that.

[@JustSean413]

Thats like asking someone if they want rid of a turd thats been left in their bed

[@magnificentmuttley2084]

A Re-United Ireland will come and it won’t be long. Only now are the DUP starting to realise how much traction they have lost, when, just last week, we saw Paul Givan dancing an Irish jig and Edwin Poots speaking Gaelic and saying the Irish/Gaelic language was ‘shared heritage’…!!! Who would’ve thought we would see that, especially considering the reluctance of the DUP to recognise the Irish/Gaelic language and heritage in Northern Ireland, which was an agreed item in the Good Friday Agreement, so many years ago now, and was one of the reasons then that Stormont dissolved (as well as the RHI scandal!!!). So much time - and money - shamefully wasted. The problem for the DUP is they have vehemently been so bigoted in their attitudes, not only to republicans/nationalists, catholics and anyone not a sash-wearing, marching Presbyterian but also anyone gay, or of ethnic diversity. They jumped off the bus the rest of we modern North Irish British/Irish folk were happily on, the bus that was taking us to a new, peaceful, European future and now, realising the British bus won’t stop to pick them up, they are trying to jump back on with the rest of us, lest they become totally homeless, stateless has-beens.

[@gerardflynn7382]

Gaeilge not Gaelic.

[@ulicadluga]

Aha - but does the Republic want Northern Ireland?

[@fitzstv8506]

Ya! or at least between 70 to 80% of the population does.

[@anthonyhassett]

​@@fitzstv8506conducted by who on who? RTE on first year university students who dont remember the troubles?

[@fitzstv8506]

Nothing to do with RTE, there are consistent polls by various companies that show these stats. Look them up! I am not going to do he work for you.@@anthonyhassett

[@ulicadluga]

@@anthonyhassett If they don't remember the "Troubles", they will certainly remember the emphatic films and documentaries - as well as the recounting of these events by their families!

[@richardcooley9730]

The only UK interest in NI was Theresa May needing the support to hold up her government at the time. Otherwise Westminster wants out, the protocol serves only to highlight this.

[@mandycouchbean]

Great Clip Great Analysis ❤

[@steveperry8031]

The British Government wanted to give Home Rule to the whole of Ireland even before Northern Ireland was created. John Allderdyce of the Alliance party is not telling Unionists something new. I thought John Allderdyce would know the history about Northern Ireland or maybe he does but thinks some Unionists and Loyalists do not .

[@IntheSpotlight588]

Having lived in Northern Ireland for over 15 years and knowing members in the Republic of Ireland, many of them expressed their views, that they do not wish nor hope for a reunification since they would inherit loyalist paramilitary thugs and criminals based in Northern Ireland (over 14,000 of them i.e. UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando) and that they are more than happy if they are kept up North. Especially that there is no more activity from the provisional IRA in the Republic of Ireland nor up North. The Good Friday agreement is keeping the peace on the isle of Ireland and everybody wants to keep it that way.

[@taintabird23]

Again, this is an assumption based on fear rather than an discussion, plan or reality. Nobody knows what any new Ireland would look like or what the circumstance of unity would be; they don't understand that any violent opposition to a democratic decision to unify will have zero support internationally. This is because nobody outside of academic circles seems to be talking about the details and consequences of a united Ireland and fear fills the vacuum. In the meantime, the GFA is the best solution.

[@IntheSpotlight588]

@@taintabird23 Not based on fear but on facts! Even if you do not like them.

[@IntheSpotlight588]

@@taintabird23 Not based on fear but on facts!

[@ike637]

The Republican numbers outnumber the loyalists 10 to 1. . It's over.

[@petermcloone1665]

A strange peace that tolerates fourteen thousand armed loyalists.

[@StewartMcMutrie]

True the UKG would be happy to be rid of Northern Ireland BUT they absolutely fear the domino effect and that they would be unable to prevent Scotland following shortly. So IMHO NI is caught in the wider context

[@margaretdundas680]

Why Ireland we Scots want OOT we want FREEDOM

[@thinfourth]

So you can get down on your knees and become an islamic nation begging to get in the door of the EU

[@eamondevlin1860]

And thats why a citizen assembly(s) is a good option for exploring, analysing, understanding and recommending solutions for complex issues such as Irish Unity. Even better to exclude any previous and current political representatives. To call a border poll with no idea of what you would be voting for is crazy.

[@mandycouchbean]

Happy Mother's Day 💐❤️

[@annemitchell6144]

My mother is dead so enough of that CRAP

[@heartofoak45]

I can never understand why England went into Ireland in the first place. It had no strategic or financial benefit and created untold problems over the centuries. I would like to see a United Ireland in the not too distant future, and perhaps a step too far I would like an independent Ireland to be part of the Commonwealth, but I am sure that would not be possible as regards the EU.

[@taintabird23]

The English had a great deal of anxiety about Ireland at times, seeing it as a backdoor into Britain. From an English or British perspective, keeping Ireland reduced that anxiety. It also provided England with bread basket during the industrial revolution and for feeding the British Army and Navy during the Napoleonic wars, not to mention the manpower for their military. That was the strategic interest England had in Ireland. There is no reason why a united Ireland could not rejoin the Commonwealth. Cyprus and Malta are EU members that that also in the Commonwealth. It is possible.

[@kevinhayes7830]

The sad thing is all the lives this took on all sides for what 😢

[@markhart4922]

For the republic to be in turmoil over immigration and loss of cultural foundation

[@kevinhayes7830]

@@markhart4922 that's British right wing politics do me a favour do one Muppet

[@markhart4922]

@@kevinhayes7830 so the protests and violence in Dublin was the British??? Bloody hell we haven’t been there since 1921

[@rapier1954]

@@markhart4922 At least Sharia law hasn't been implemented like in parts of Leicester. Kettle trying to call the pot black. Sore that Brexit is proving to be the disaster everyone told you it would be.

[@rapier1954]

@@markhart4922 You must have been living under a rock. There have never been riots and violence in the UK since 1921??? There were plenty of violent marches under Thatcher just to name one example. You're another DUP inbed no doubt.

[@sylviegonzalez1153]

A Star Trek episode stated that Ireland would be united in 2024. 😊😊😊

[@captainbungee]

TNG S3 E12.

[@IvanWizard-Karl]

Intelligent people in the Republic don't want the money pit that is Northern Ireland either. England wanted it, they can keep it!

[@private-private]

Agreed. Its a money pit that Irish citizens dont want to pay for and the militant united Irish people wont have to pay a cent for it or anything else. The Uk can keep it.

[@annemitchell6144]

and keep paying for it

[@johnrodgers2018]

The EU would most likely bail the new united Ireland out financially.

[@private-private]

@@johnrodgers2018 Why should they? Its like divorcing your wife after marrying her with the attitude of some other man will now most likely feed your kids. Irish people dont want europe to have to " bail" it out. Let Britain do all the " bailing" as you put it as they did all the invading and colonising.

[@danielmorse922]

@@johnrodgers2018 The EU let East Germany in as part of German reunification. I'm sure if they can handle that they can handle NI.

[@Ballyhoura1]

We, in the Republic, don't want Northern Ireland either.

[@Boghopper9999]

I was wondering who we appointed to speak on behalf of the country; thanks for taking up the role, it was getting real hard for the rest of us to create our own opinions. Good we finally have you here to speak for us! So, on behalf of the rest of us, any other policies you want to clarify?

[@jockmcallister]

Exactly right Lord Alderdice and Max. I’m a unionist, an increasingly soft unionist and suppose I’ve been an Alliance supporter for quite a while.… The writing has been on the wall for a while and Brexit was an accelerator. London’s (ie johnsons Tory party) ultimate attitude towards Brexit showed how little NI is held to them. Personally feel unionism should have turned more pragmatically towards Dublin on having a closer relationship, even going as far as talking about the prospect of a New Ireland, instead we’ve seen the DUP still trying to play the old NO Never game, losing any of the centre ground they had, in meantime a very shrewd SF have capitalised a lot of central nationalist ground and looking likely to be forming next Dublin Government. Theres a lot talk about, much more than a KZbin comment box is suitable for… 😂

[@IrishSon]

SF are not guaranteed to walk into Government in Dáil Éireann after the next GE. In fact, they have lost support in Ireland because of their perceived open border policies. Many in Ireland would never vote for SF because of their links to the PIRA in Northern Ireland. But even if they do form the next Government in Dublin, it would be political suicide for them to pursue their agenda of a united Ireland. There are so many things that Irish people want to see addressed and unification is not one of them. If Ireland holds a unification Referendum in my lifetime, which I see as unlikely, I would vote against unification with Northern Ireland. There are many reasons including financial implications, increased security risks. I don’t want to see a United Ireland or a New Ireland. I am happy with Ireland as it is now.

[@jockmcallister]

@@IrishSon I suppose thats very possible, also. We would be a burden at the min for sure, an NHS heavily in crisis and all the old classic baggage....

[@IrishSon]

@@jockmcallister nothing to do with being a burden. The simple truth is we are two very different people who happen to share an island. Too much time has passed and too much blood has been spilled on both sides of the border. Personally, I would never consider any person from Northern Ireland as my fellow country men or women. If, at some point in the future, the DUP throw their toys out of their collective prams, then I think a hard border should be seriously considered. Give the DUP the Brexit that they want. We have had Customs infrastructure placed on the border before, no reason why this could not be implemented again. We should not allow the DUP or SF to hold this island to ransom. Maybe it is time to revisit the GFA and make necessary changes to prevent these parties from doing these things into the future. I wish Northern Ireland well, but I would not like Ireland to go down the road of unification. There is no reason why we can’t continue to share the island as we do now. No reason why Northern Ireland cannot remain part of the United Kingdom.

[@Judgementday-qp1ol]

Westminster only wants a friendly and good neighbour on their backdoor, and they have that with the Irish People in General. A United Ireland will only bring a closer relationship in the future, and Westminster realises this by now. When will Unionists finally realise this???

[@Bran9]

NEXT door

[@luminousfractal420]

Does it now. OK Ireland, time to cling onto them for 800years so they get a jist of how annoying that is 😂

[@irbfenian2594]

Seems likely the EU may not be there in 10 years, better get reunification done in the next 5.

[@mickgrant4262]

Northern Ireland was always an afterthought in the Uk and Northern Ireland it over done most of the Laws are identical to the Republic very little left to Change

[@markharrison2466]

Very true, but the tories have relied upon DUP support to hold on to power.

[@candidaprout560]

Good afternoon Max and all here. Curious about the DUP reaction. But about Scotland? So many doubts and problems. And what will be the end of the story/history here?

[@gordonmackenzie4512]

The union is a very uncertain thing. What does the future hold for Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland 🤷‍♂️

[@candidaprout560]

​@@gordonmackenzie4512thanks very much for your help. Have a nice Sunday 🍀.

[@ItsTheBoombox]

Reminds me of the headlines that really confused me hack when the Chancellor was doing some National Insurance cuts, "Hunt signals end of NI"

[@brianmacc1934]

Im 54 yo , when i was young the old ppl said the brits wnted rid , i dont belive this . Territory is wealth and ireland has good farm land and strategic position , if they cud keep it peaceful ........

[@TheThundertaker]

Farmland? Northern Ireland is a money pit. Getting rid of NI would free up £10 billion a year that could be spent on the NHS and other things in GB. Of course Westminster wants rid of it.

[@DeclanMCC-lg6vl]

That flag on the thumbnail is incorrect and does not represent the nationalists population in any way (NI) does not have any official flag

[@justincharles2332]

I suspect there are many in Britain who would struggle to find NI on a map...

[@dv86boom11]

Because it doesn't exist lol

[@odunadhaigh]

That wouldn't surprise me. There are many in Britain who would struggle to find ANY named part of the UK on a map.

[@sirRoyM]

Brexit made the reunification of the Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland inevitable

[@IrishSon]

For Ireland, unification with Northern Ireland is neither inevitable nor necessary.

[@seanosuilleabhain3790]

Biggest risk is that the UK would call a border poll in a hurry. There has to be all island engagement with civic society (e.g. trade union movement, business representative associations, community & voluntary sector etc.) along with citizens' assemblies before referendums are held north and south.

[@gordonmackenzie4512]

Weirdly it’s not up to the people of Northern Ireland or Ireland. It’s all in the hands of the Westminster Northern Ireland Secretary of State.

[@genghisthegreat2034]

The risk you've highlighted is the real one. A thorough, detailed, funded plan, endorsed by Ireland, EU, UK and US is absolutely vital.

[@Onequietvoice]

Absolutely@@genghisthegreat2034

[@roseanne9986]

@@gordonmackenzie4512The Northern Ireland act 1998, which gave effect to the Good Friday Agreement, states that a poll will be called by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland “if at any time it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish to unite. Not up to Westminster.

[@liamm.1431]

​@@roseanne9986 sorry Rose it sort of does. The SoS for northern Ireland has the last say on a border poll being called and this has the thumb prints of the late and in some quarters unlamented Seamus Mallon. Some have suggested that Mallon leaned so far back for unionists that he could see up his own rear end. John Hume had a frosty relationship with him and its known that they had very heated disagreements over the teams of the GFA. That being said the new alliance stance gives a very ambiguous part of the agreement a bit more wriggel room for the in coming SoS. One things for sure and that's time is rapidly running out for unionists and their various fellow travellers.

[@munch762]

Ireland won't take that mess back, it will cost too much to police.

[@mandycouchbean]

Hi Max Good Afternoon Everyone ❤

[@wrc5557]

There seems to be a common but misplaced assumption that NI gets 10-12bn a year which is simply a charity handout - Businesses and employees in NI all pay tax, we pay tax on earnings, on goods, on fuel, even those living on benefits are taxed on their purchases, all of which goes back to Westminster. While I'm not pretending NI isn't a net loss to the treasury, its not to the extend that many suggest. Similarly, the notion that the Republic cant afford NI is nonsense - you could cut the cost of NI by 2 thirds by ending segregated education, stopping payouts to paramilitary gangs (who refuse to transition from violent and drug dealing), by cutting quangos and multiple the councils which arent needed for such a small population, by cutting the entirety of Stormont and turning it into a substitute NI wide council, and centralizing the gov departments with the existing republic system. There are ways to save billions in NI if the will is there. The assumption that in a united Ireland NI stays the same, but with a different landlord seems to be the biggest misunderstanding - its would change significantly, not only to ensure adequate representation for unionists in a new Ireland, but also to make it a much more economically efficient (which wont happpen under the stausquo, as its in the interests of the biggest NI parties to keep the sectarian gravy train running at full speed, as to do otherwise might mean folk vote on social and economic issues rather than based on fear, paranoia, hatred and inbred bigotry! And its quite clear any move to a united Ireland would have to come with decades long support from Westmister to fund the transition, to pay for public sector pensions etc, so its not like the taps from GB would be turned off overnight.

[@woodpigeon01]

I think the point about Dublin not being ready is well made. Although we in the Republic *aspire* to a united Ireland we are still in the very early stages of getting to grips with what that will mean. I’ve a feeling that what we need to give up in order to achieve an agreed UI will be a subject of considerable debate.

[@Onequietvoice]

Indeed. It will hurt.

[@liamm.1431]

It could be fairly easy to deal with the faux unionists "concerns" change the national anthem? The flag? capital city?shamrocks on the head of pints of guinness? Easy peasey 1.Organise a petition of 100,000 signatures demanding change on any of the above, 2. Demand an national referendum about any of the above 3. After getting stuffed, retreat back under the rock you've been hiding in. I garrentee that the orange order will huff and puff and without the brits to do their dirty work, they'll quickly disappear back up their own traditional routes....forever.

[@taintabird23]

@@liamm.1431 That's a lovely sentiment to have. People like you are the a bigger barrier to unity than Orangism, which is at least on the decline.

[@fishyq5077]

The unionists will demand we give up everything. On the other hand, they are 15% of the island, so don't really get to dictate very much. We are already speaking their language, so that part of their "culture" is safe.

[@FFM0594]

Overthinking it somewhat. The Germans dashed head first into their reunification and managed all hurdles after the fact.

[@michaelinlondon]

Yup. The issue is all those people marching up and down, banging the Lambeg drum and playing the flute. They fair like a flute.

[@upthedubs1000]

The sooner the better there is a united Ireland. Ok some would be a little unhappy but this will be for a short time and then that will give way to a forever peace.

[@private-private]

No! I think the majority of Irish people dont want the hassle, the cost, the integration battles.