Brexit handed Sinn Fein election victory in Northern Ireland | the New Statesman

Nationalism in Northern Ireland has thrived since the Brexit vote, says Sam McBride of the Belfast Telegraph
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Joining Freddie Hayward and Rachel Wearmouth on the New Statesman podcast, Sam McBride analyses the results of the Northern Ireland local elections, in which Sinn Fein won 144 seats - 22 more than the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). They explore the reasons behind the seismic shift in Northern Irish politics, and discuss the implications for the future of Northern Ireland and the UK.
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[@michaelodonnell824]

Here's a fact check that isn't mentioned in this video. Northern Ireland is regularly described as "Tribal". To be more honest, it has been a place where the different communities rarely interact with one another. One element of this is the Northern Ireland media. The 'Belfast Telegraph" which the only Northern Ireland accent works for, has been and remains the voice of Protestant Unionism. Thus, one notices how quickly Mr McBride mentioned the Sinn Fein links to the IRA, while downplaying the DUP links to Loyalist paramilitaries. A second element is that he seems to suggest that Sinn Fein's rhetoric in this election was focused on the National question whereas other commentators remarked about how little Sinn Fein refered to the National question, favouring"Bread and Butter" issues. "Openness, Transparency and Accountability"? Absent in this video...

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

Not informed enough about the paper to comment. But I will.observe the paper from now on.

[@maherhamadouch2005]

Was about to comment the same thing

[@colincampbell4261]

Sinn Fein is the IRA.

[@matpk]

@@maherhamadouch2005 Split NI into 6 parts Return to RoI one by one Over the span of 18 years 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@maherhamadouch2005]

@@matpk or just straight away

[@hugmc]

Tony Blair said at the time off the Good Friday agreement that if Sinn Fein didn’t join the peace process the peace train would go without them does that not apply too the Don’t unify Party 😢

[@LeMerch]

Honestly, I think if or when NI and IRL start a new country.. after a few decades nobody will care. Things will be normal. All the hate and violence will be forgotten and even looked at with pitta (toward both sides) but like the Irish civil war in the 1920s. Time moves on. Young people are more integrated than ever.

[@frankiekl87]

Haha get real Protestants have already started being targeted in neighbourhoods. The reason Northern Ireland is still part of the uk is to protect them against attack

[@donnachamcgowan]

The Irish has not forgotten the Civil war has it moved on ?

[@Jonathan-qo1ir]

Been saying for years they need to remove segregated schools in the North. Let the next generation properly grow up together and they will figure out the future of NI together like this

[@Driver2616]

@@donnachamcgowan : Yes we have moved on. Most of us have anyway. There might still be be a few eejits that haven’t moved on but only just a few…..

[@nar2cc]

@@donnachamcgowan We have not forgotten, but we have moved on, those times are over.

[@kc8923]

Farage, Cummings and pro Brexit right of Tory Party seemed to think it would give us simple solutions to complex domestic and international issues. The irony of a weakened bond with N Ireland may be wasted on them.

[@seanohartaigh2209]

That plus their hard work and steadfast commitment over the last 118 years

[@dandonovan11]

Essentially, Brexit has removed Unionist supremacy by distributing the soft Unionist vote to Alliance, SF obviously benefitting from this.

[@indogoUI]

It was the most votes for a single party ever

[@amcc5887]

Sinn féin are a party for inclusiveness for everyone, d u p are for themselves, always were, and ter paying for it now,

[@eoincollins1883]

Dups backward politics also didn't help

[@j2msu341]

@@amcc5887 could have swore SF were a nationalist party !

[@pauleng883]

Sinn fein hate capitalism, hate protestants, hate conservative thinking christians, hate anything british orientated, hate the orange order, hate working class irish nationalists concerned about the erosion of their identity and concerned about immigration

[@kkh4179]

This will be a good time for Irish reunification.

[@nagoranerides3150]

The Irish can come back any time; no one's stopping them.

[@timlinator]

@@nagoranerides3150 NI and Scotland will be pulling their own brexit from UK back to the EU.

[@nagoranerides3150]

@@timlinator The SNP must be the only "independence" party that doesn't actually want independence. They just want to depend on the biggest teat. I guess they've never heard of Greece.

[@johnkennedy972]

Irish unity is coming 🇮🇪32

[@gerardflynn3899]

26+6=1 26 counties in Ireland + 6 counties in NI = 1 Nation.

[@whisperingblues9887]

Never will happen in reality the trouble that would cause would be shocking.

[@corkboy4523]

@@whisperingblues9887 unionists never really liked democracy! But they’ll get used to it😉

[@ince55ant]

worth noting there was a clear demographic shift, a trend which can be tracked well before brexit. The unionist voters largely exist in older age demographics, while nationalist voters skew younger. the last census results were basically the final confirmation of this. if anything Brexit was simply a catalyst for an already happening reaction

[@craic-is-mighty]

Younger protestants are voting Alliance ..

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

yea Brexit is not the sole cause of this but imo it has sped up the process by about 30 years

[@evolassunglasses4673]

No, demographic change did. Demographics are destiny.

[@PMMagro]

Brexit makes it happen faster though?

[@evolassunglasses4673]

@@PMMagro the system will try and set that narrative. It's overtly anti Brexit and never ever wants to touch on the topic of demographics.

[@matpk]

@@PMMagro Split NI into 6 parts Return to RoI one by one Over the span of 18 years 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@bapsmcginty4782]

@@matpk BOT. This post is duplicated over every channel debating the NI Council election results.

[@ericdelorme8777]

YES!!!!!

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

2001 census reported that Unionists had a majority over Nationalists of 150000 Census 2011 report that Unionists had a majority over Nationalists of 50000. Unionists are in a minority in evert age group in n Ireland except over 80s. What says that for the future of N Ireland?

[@LeMerch]

A unites Ireland makes sense in every single way. Economically, socially and politically. It’s mainly only SOME unionists who hate the irish so much that they are unwilling to be in the same country as them (even resenting nationalism just existing in NI). It’s sad but it’s what’s caused all this division. They want to be separate because they hate us. Why do they hate us so so much?

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

@@LeMerch I suggest it is insecurity. It is the Hall Mark of a bully. The day when Unionists could do and say what they liked regarding Nationalists is gone and gone forever. The worst thing any government can do is educate the peasant. For it teaches them to think for themselves. Armed with education and knowledge they are a serious problem. The pen is mightier than the sword is a very true proverb.

[@frankoneill5675]

Yes in the under thirties, the Catholic majority is 51% to 35% Protestant. Over seventies, seven P for every 4 C. This 40:40:20 split he wants to take comfort in is only temporary.

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

@@frankoneill5675 Please edit and put UNDER 30s in capitals. Otherwise difficult for others to understand.

[@frankoneill5675]

@@williampatrickfagan7590 Yes, in the under thirty age group, and in the over seventy age groups. Ambiguous otherwise.

[@JG-jc8dm]

What a great guest. Thanks to all involved. I learned stuff.

[@djdoolittle1315]

DUP Out! 🇮🇪🤘

[@amcc5887]

💯 %👍 👍 👍

[@tonylennon7979]

Excellent analysis .. Great strategic victory for Sinn Fein . Unionism is in terminal decline. Negativity always beats the perpetrator. The momentum for a border poll is unstoppable.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Wrong. Demographics are destiny.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Sinn Fein = was Brits out, now Africa in

[@imastaycool]

​@@evolassunglasses4673 whatever, you racist coloniser.

[@dolmen6613]

-true..can't wait.. then we'll see that neither the North or the South wants unity

[@noamfinnegan8663]

​@@evolassunglasses4673 cry baby 😭

[@andrewjones-productions]

...and the inevitable breakup of the UK begins. People are tired of those who are holding the rest of the population back by continually wanting to live in the past and refuse to acknowledge that drastic and dramatic constitutional change is necessary if the union is to survive and the economy and standards of living to improve. The DUP are in particular dinosaurs in this group and their refusal to acknowledge the will of the electorate of Northern Ireland is going to continue to work against them to the point that they will be in such a minority that the terms of the Good Friday Agreement will be relooked at by all relevant parties, although I suspect that the Northern Irish themselves will demand a referendum on unity with Ireland and the DUP are so stupid that they will likely advise their followers to boycott the vote and the republican camp will win by a large margin.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Living in the past = not wanting to be ruled by international finance capitalism and the forces of open borders Globalisation

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Ireland now is completely captured by international finance capitalism and the forces of open borders Globalisation. They have reduced Ireland to an economic zone open to the World and reduced the Irish people to replaceable economic units. The West's financial and banking system system is mass debt + mass money printing + mass immigration. This system always crashes in the end. We will be left with nothing.

[@hypsyzygy506]

There will be a constitutional crisis if the Alliance becomes the second largest Party in the Assembly and is denied the Deputy First Minister position because it is neither 'Nationalist' nor 'Unionist'.

[@imastaycool]

Britain and even the UK as a whole is disunited politically, socially, culturally and linguistically. The poor political choices and decisions of Brexit have made the lack of unity ever clearer for the entire world to see. It's not just disunited, it's also completely imbalanced. Politically, it has devolved governments, but most of the power lies in Tory Westminster which has the UK at political loggerheads. These devolved governments squabble and fight amongst each other which details the disunity. Brexit was divisive and it shows how disunited the UK is with the occupied region called "Northern Ireland" and the country of Scotland voting No to Brexit. The UK is literally split down the middle in the Brexit debacle which makes it politically disunited. Furthermore, the UK isn't a voluntary union because Scotland is actively being denied another independence referendum post Brexit - this, again, makes it a disunited partnership + an imbalanced and undemocratic one. Welsh and Scottish independence is growing while talks of Irish reunification are on everyone's lips - this, again, demonstrates a disunited and imbalanced union. Socially, culturally and linguistically it is also divided and disunited as the different parts have their own culture and language + Britain has become increasingly "British Asian". Brexit itself limits multiculturalism and encourages exclusive nationalism and nativism which in effect breeds racism and xenophobia (the very core of Brexit and Brexiteers). Try convincing yourself that Grim Britain is united, but it's DISUNITED and IMBALANCED as well as UNDEMOCRATIC and UNJUST. And it's actively breaking up which is the ultimate win 😅

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

honestly i never thought of that part but your right i could see a reality where even before the vote takes place they refuse to acknowledge it's legitimacy and will order their members to boycott the vote because the quiet part Andrew they won't say out loud is in the event of a United Ireland will order the Loyalist Paramilitaries to kick off Terrorist attacks

[@tombattisti8682]

Belfast Telegraph editor is over-egging significance of Alliance Party partly out of hope but signals his aversion to acknowledging Sinn Fein’s political rise and future prospects

[@petert1692]

Time for the occupiers to either be part of Ireland, or pack up and go to the mother land.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

But you are now occupied by international finance capitalism and the forces of open borders Globalisation. You will be reduced to an economic zone open to the World.

[@amcc5887]

Absolutely 💪 💪 💪

[@dorkangel1076]

The "occupers" have been living on their part of the land mass for over 400 years now. How long before people aren't considered occupiers...

[@hypsyzygy506]

The sad thing is that Ulster's Unionists aren't really wanted on the island of Great Britain. They are Irish. They aren't Scottish, they aren't Welsh, and they certainly aren't English. They just don't fit - they are more or less 'foreign'.

[@indogoUI]

​@@dorkangel1076 until they vacate

[@taipizzalord4463]

Good. UK needs to break up as 'fortress' England wants to be on its own!

[@alanbrown9178]

Just wondering.... who's "permission" will England ask to hold a referendum?

[@Oluinneachain]

@@alanbrown9178 their Norman overlords of course😂

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

It's perfectly logical for all the countries of UK to become federally involved with a greater Europe. UK and Northern Ireland is a recent construct. and no more logical than was Czecho-Slovakia.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

When you get the scale of mass replacement migration that England particularly London has, you will soon understand.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

@channelsixtyeight068 we are occupied by international finance tho.

[@noamfinnegan8663]

The kids are coming, the kids are coming, I've got seven of them, 3 more of voting age by the next election. It's over, done and dusted. No more Great, no more Britain and the kingdom crumbles into the Irish sea. Seek equality in freedom not equality in oppression. Together we're Better To the guests Slán abhaile 💚☘️ I remain committed to a better, fairer, reunited Ireland with economic liberty for all. ✊✊✊✊✊✊

[@clintireland389]

So you 2 English folk just sat their and let the guy from the ‘Belfast telegraph’ (pro DUP) say what he had to say without having a balanced contributor from the Irish native nationalist side? Emmm funny that!

[@adblocker276]

United Ireland will happen within the lifetime of the intellectual heavyweights such as Sammy Wilson, Arlene foster and Jim Allister.

[@taffyman6089]

I thought it would take two generations but you are correct it will happen within a few years now.

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

I'm a healthy for my age at 71. I hope and expect to see it.

[@user-ur2kn8qy5t]

I hope your right

[@colincampbell4261]

Nah.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Just a shame Ireland is completely captured by international finance capitalism and the forces of open borders Globalisation.

[@edwardbrady5843]

No the people handed Sinn Fein the election success. But you brits wouldn't understand that.

[@frankiekl87]

Not the people, some of

[@edwardbrady5843]

@@frankiekl87 Well not the planters.

[@frankiekl87]

@@edwardbrady5843 suppose you think turkey should still be Constantinople then? What about moving everyone from Boston back in to Ireland. Funny thing is Irish people protesting about immigration 😂😂😂😂

[@edwardbrady5843]

@@frankiekl87 No Constantinople is now called Istanbul. Facts do matter, Unionists had no problem in treating their Catholic neighbours as second class citizens, they had no problem creating a state where unionists parties would always rule. So whinge to me about my people or my country, if you think your better than your Catholic neighbours, move to your beloved britian where you belong.

[@frankiekl87]

@@edwardbrady5843 facts? So modern day Turkey wasn’t based of an invasion which took over and slaughtered some of the oldest known Christian’s to the point Byzantine Christianity was destroyed? Your honesty so engulfed in your own perfume you can’t see at which point do you stop. Do we through modern day Iraqis out of Mesopotamia?

[@georgebisacre9413]

Very good analysis of the situation

[@SlayTYT]

Can’t wait for the U.K. to break up. Who will got for it first?! Ireland? or Scotland?

[@Backpfeifengesicht45]

Definitely Scotland. That's in the next few years. Ireland reunification will be a longer term thing.

[@imastaycool]

Stop saying Ireland ffs... You mean the 6 occupied counties in Ireland!!

[@tomwaller6893]

How come the media ignored the fact that Scotland is the largest member state of the UK and a founding member. We will be inside the EU long before Irish unification and that is a FACT.

[@johndelaney459]

without Scotland there will be no union it was Scotland that made the union

[@homolgus1]

Why have the Unionists ever tried to reach out to catholics? there have been voices who have suggested this but they have always been rebuffed.

[@dorkangel1076]

Because the main unionist parties base their election strategy on a fear of them'uns rather than actual policies. The protestants who would likely still vote to be in the uk in a border poll but are sick of politics revolving around the union and want to see more progressive policies vote Alliance, leaving the unionist parties to fight over the hardcore unionist voters by trying to "out-unionist" each other.

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

The whole point of the Unionist project from the get go has been anti-catholic. They have built a whole cultural structure round this ie the routes the Orange marched over were routed to pass through majority Catholic neighbourhoods and literally disrupt people lives and there's a. bedrock of anti Catholic rhetoric built into very soul of that side of NI society. When the previous dominate Unionist party the Ulster Unionist Party liberalised after the Good Friday agreement it relatively quickly was replaced by the more stringent traditionalist anti-catholic DUP as the major political representative of Unionism within NI politics. The whole anti-Brexit position of the DUP arose from the party's attempt to undermine and destroy the GFA and any involvement with the EU which a large element of party view as a Catholic conspiracy.

[@dorkangel1076]

@@Buckets1000 In 1600 the entire population of Ireland was only 1.4 million. By 1718 it was 2.3 million. By your figures, half the population of Ireland used to be protestant?

[@dorkangel1076]

@@Buckets1000 I got the population figures from the same source. If 1.5 million came (and presumable then stayed and had children) then by the 1700’s half of Ireland was Protestant. You missed the Portadown Massacre in your list of atrocities so it wasn’t all one sided.

[@dorkangel1076]

@@Buckets1000 Well any figures I've seen on the population of Ireland in 1600 have estimated it at about 1.4m (which is pretty sparse compared to its current 7m or its high point of 8m just before the Great Famine). By 1718, after the end of the plantations (of which the only successful one was Ulster and it now had a Protestant majority) and a few wars, Irelands population sat at 2.9m. Can't see a reference for your 1.5m but the entry under Ulster Plantations (1606 onwards) has the following: "By the 1630's, there were 20,000 adult male English and Scottish settlers in Ulster, which meant that the settler population could have been as high as 80,000 to 150,000." It isn't clear if that refers to the settler population only in Ulster if you include women and children or it is extrapolating it out to estimate the entire settler population in Ireland but its still away off 1.5m. It seems unlikely that the only successful plantation consisted of just 5-10% of the entire settler population. Is it possible someone read that 150,000 figure as 1,500,000?

[@jaapfolmer7791]

In any normal democracy with a 40-20-40 distribution you'd expect a 40-20 coalition government and a 40 opposition. But in NI you must have a 'grand coalition' of nationalists and unionists. Hence the DUP can block the formation of a government. Doesn't this mean that the GFA is outdated and needs to be replaced by something more democratic?

[@IrishRebel23]

Let's be real these politicians don't give a $hit. The GFA was a quick fix there is never going to be a solution to NI that makes everyone happy either side has to give in at some point or we all go down together

[@jaapfolmer7791]

@@IrishRebel23 There is no "either" side in a land of three minorities.

[@IrishRebel23]

@@jaapfolmer7791 so you suppose changing the GFA that has kept somewhat peace on this island for 25 years to just be changed without causing any uproar as most of the majority of the island of Ireland voted in favor of the GFA. Now others are losing and they are trying to change the rules lol its hilarious 😂

[@matpk]

@@jaapfolmer7791 Split NI into 6 parts Return to RoI one by one Over the span of 18 years 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@indogoUI]

@@matpk Nope just one vote and it's done ✅👍

[@michaelmcgoldrick7909]

What your seeing is the end of British domanaiton 🇮🇪

[@imastaycool]

Britain and even the UK as a whole is disunited politically, socially, culturally and linguistically. The poor political choices and decisions of Brexit have made the lack of unity ever clearer for the entire world to see. It's not just disunited, it's also completely imbalanced. Politically, it has devolved governments, but most of the power lies in Tory Westminster which has the UK at political loggerheads. These devolved governments squabble and fight amongst each other which details the disunity. Brexit was divisive and it shows how disunited the UK is with the occupied region called "Northern Ireland" and the country of Scotland voting No to Brexit. The UK is literally split down the middle in the Brexit debacle which makes it politically disunited. Furthermore, the UK isn't a voluntary union because Scotland is actively being denied another independence referendum post Brexit - this, again, makes it a disunited partnership + an imbalanced and undemocratic one. Welsh and Scottish independence is growing while talks of Irish reunification are on everyone's lips - this, again, demonstrates a disunited and imbalanced union. Socially, culturally and linguistically it is also divided and disunited as the different parts have their own culture and language + Britain has become increasingly "British Asian". Brexit itself limits multiculturalism and encourages exclusive nationalism and nativism which in effect breeds racism and xenophobia (the very core of Brexit and Brexiteers). Try convincing yourself that Grim Britain is united, but it's DISUNITED and IMBALANCED as well as UNDEMOCRATIC and UNJUST. And it's actively breaking up which is the ultimate win 😅

[@paullooney2522]

Yep, and globalist domanaiton put in its place,fecking great.

[@EamonCoyle]

The reason Northern Ireland will never have a stable and working government is because it does not exist as a real state in the heads and hearts of it's citizens. I live in Belfast and have done my whole life, and I myself often don't self recognise as Northern Irish. The issue in Northern Ireland is no longer simply about the division and polarisation, it is the fact that half the population see themselves as British and the rest Irish; the cognitive dissonance that leads to is clear to see in people's apathy towards the restoration of Stormont !!

[@dondoodat]

Who was it that said that Northern Irish farmers insist that they are British whilst they insist their livestock are Irish ?

[@EamonCoyle]

@@dondoodat We are indeed a basket case, and the so called political representatives would rather waste another 900 years spreading blame than stepping up. I remember around the first ceasefires a song called "things can only get better", but have things got any better ?

[@dondoodat]

@@EamonCoyle Things can only get bitter ?

[@EamonCoyle]

@@dondoodat Funny !!

[@ULYSSES-31]

I don't think the respective governments of Ireland and the UK view NI as a real 'state' either.

[@johntracy1369]

This why SF is asking for conversation about a United Ireland and not depending on it's own steam ..I would love to see the British government leave our country

[@deswhelan3463]

Isn't it odd that there is absolutely no political movement, or even conversation, among the Protestant population, or anyone else in the Republic of Ireland to rejoin the "Union". The DUP have never tried to "sell" the Union to the Citizens in the Republic. I've no doubt, especially since Brexit, what the very short, sharp response to that question would be. So, I wonder, even to their own tribal supporters, amid the utter chaos and collapse of social services and the flailing economy in the UK, what the sales pitch would be, now, to remain in the "Union"?. The truth is, brutally exposed by the Brexit referendum, that there is no "Union". England, with it's huge population will always determine and dictate the fate of the other members, no matter how they vote. They have no voice, in the end all important decisions are made and implemented by Westminster, where the elected members of the other States are overwhelmingly out numbered and always will be. You are not equal as the word "Union" would imply. There is nothing like the sting of a dying Wasp. No pun intended or implied.

[@darrylsimpson4744]

As someone who knows very little about N I, the fact that they voted in favour of remain, if I was Northern Irish I would think how this guy describes it, that my English “masters” and the “Unionists” MADE me LEAVE. As it happens, the Northern Irish came out of it better than England, Scotland or Wales. Don’t take my word for it .. just listen to Rishi’s post “Windsor Framework” (or protocol 2) speech to the world.

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

Or Brexshit Boris urging Ukraine to get its house in order so that they can join the European Union

[@jamiegrant5955]

Great point, but it's important to remember that political unionism saw the Brexit referendum as a means to undermine the GFA and reimplement a hard border on the island of Ireland. As a consequence, NI leave voters skewed loyalist and viewed the remain campaign as a nationalist ploy (Political Unionism, not unionism as a whole).

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

@@jamiegrant5955 Got it in 1.

[@darrylsimpson4744]

@Jamie Grant .. if my wife (pretty much non-political) could see pre- referendum that N I would be a problems for the implementation of Brexit, then it’s shows that the Brexit-sponsoring team(s) knew it was too. Just didn’t tell the thick leave voters. My leave-voting neighbours and friends just “don’t want to talk politics any more, but broke their f**king necks to vote in the referendum. Saw it as a vote that mattered I guess.

[@Silllybean]

I think what matters here isn’t a value judgement of who was better off, it’s what they talk about at the end of the clip- it’s a cultural, or emotional response. As someone from Northern Ireland, I’d never felt particularly British or even that strongly Irish, but just Northern Irish. Now Brexit has introduced this rotted rule Britannia mindset to politics which makes me feel far more alienated from the UK than I ever did, and pushes me closer to Ireland. It’s not about numbers on a spreadsheet, it never has been. All those people didn’t fight in the troubles for increased economic activity, they fought for a sense of identity. The same is true now.

[@highvolumepls]

4.48 Suddenly Sam? Oh we were all so happy in northern ireland

[@fastfreddy19641]

If the uk government starts to throw money at northern Ireland you may find the English and Scottish reacting to this. We are all suffering cuts and shortages and to suggest Stormont gets extra money for doing what it is meant to do will go down badly with us.

[@indogoUI]

They won't do it, now the tide has turned they'll run it to the ground

[@dv86boom11]

We'll all be spending the yoyo's soon enough 🇮🇪

[@pauleng883]

This wee small corner of the world is full of hatred. Its despairing. Slander, fighting, tribalism, hatred, intimidation. Politians elected who dont even have brains to share let alone stand on its own.

[@rapier1954]

Nationalists are slightly in the Majority (this may have something to do with the election results but that trend is going to increase greatly in the next 10 years based on the stats of elementary and secondary school children and their backgrounds so we may expect Sinn Fein being the number one party in the future too. I am a Protestant and the Belfast Telegraph is a Unionist oriented paper and it is often nothing short of propaganda. Objective reporting by this paper is a rarity in my opinion. The same can be said of other news outlets representing different communities in NI too.

[@hypsyzygy506]

What will happen to Northern Ireland if the UK falls apart before a border poll takes place? Never say never. (Just look at Brexit).

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

then Northern Ireland by default would become part of the Republic of Ireland as they literally cannot sustain themselves

[@celticlofts]

I think Sinn Fein are trying to make more of an effort than the DUP, or indeed any other Loyalist political party, to find some common ground to built upon and that seems to be working. The DUP will always have a support base but over time its numbers will diminish due to the old passing on and the young wanting something more than the same old politics their parents and grandparents grew up with.

[@ukporkpie7829]

First bit of good news from brexshit I've heard!

[@MrDirtybear]

The next turning point to watch for is whether Sinn Fein win the most MPs in the next election. In the last election Sinn Fein won seven seats and the DUP won eight seats, moderate parties won three seats. The DUP know that winning most seats matters, and know that how they play their return to Stormont, and how they behave in Stormont, will be key to that. If supporting Brexit has proven an electoral mis-step how much can they afford another mis-step? Frankly I keep wishing that fortunes The Alliance Party would rise further, Northern Ireland needs a non-sectarian future to help take down the 'peace walls' in Belfast....

[@genehunter1626]

The traditional unionist position as "a protestant government for a protestant people" has produced an older generation of protestants who will never accept a Catholic first minister, and a Catholic generation who will always consider themselves non citizens in Northern Ireland. Hopefully this does not mean that a normal political situation cannot be established until the time comes when everyone alive before the GFA has passed way.

[@indogoUI]

@@genehunter1626 Do they even have a presence in Stormont. I don't think Jim is even allowed in.

[@mallon201]

To those in the New Statesman who organised this discussion, when dealing with questions re the political state of the North of Ireland, the vast majority of media organisations provide a balanced view of the current outlook, this discussion failed to do that when you had one guest, a Unionist, the editor of the Unionist newspaper the Belfast Telegraph, representing the views of the Unionist community, giving his perception of Nationalist opinion and being unchallenged in that by the co-hosts, more than likely because of their lack of experience with the politics of the North of Ireland. So maybe your headline should have read, 'a Unionist view of the recent electoral victory of Sinn Fein'. Would you try to rebalance this by having another discussion with your only guest being the editor of the Irish News, a nationalist newspaper of equal standing in the North of Ireland. Then in future have more than one viewpoint represented on your guest list.

[@foreignofficeclub5815]

The English just can't let people vote for anything else but Westminster rule. Has to be Brexit, not a desire to vote for a party that offers something different from the poison of the DUP.

[@mamaduck9370]

I note that Camilla wore Green to Belfast yesterday where Charles shook hands with Sinn Fein Mp, while opening a "coronation" community garden. Progress and peace. Despite the isolationism of the Leave voters in England, that ignored the overwhelming Remain vote in NI. Love from the Republic of Ireland in the peaceful trading bloc of the EU. Chucky ar lar.

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

Fair comment. But last sentence? Suggest you buy an Irish English dictionary.

[@frankoneill5675]

@@williampatrickfagan7590 Mama Duck probably meant clucky ar lar

[@howtoappearincompletely9739]

@@williampatrickfagan7590 What does "Chucky ar lar." mean? Is it Irish? If so, what is the phrase's correct spelling, please?

[@mamaduck9370]

@@williampatrickfagan7590 lol Tiocfaidh ar lar, if you insist. Live from Maigh Eo, the county where Michael Davitt invented the Land League and Captain Boycott was first person to suffer full consequences of the withdrawal of labour as protest for rights. Go raibh maith agat.

[@hansmolders1066]

As a German who has some Irish friends I would be interested in where you would locate the accent of your guest?

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

As other have stated the Belfast Telegraph is the traditional Unionist newspaper within Northern Ireland and McBride indicates a Scottish Protestant heritage for the reporter. It virtually impossible for non Northern Irish to tell the difference between the 2 accents but having spent sometime there over the years I'm told locals can pickup if you're Green or Orange with once someone completes a sentence. Having a Nationalist NI accent when you name is McBride and they work for the Belfast Telegraph is pretty much next to zero. It like the accent difference between New Zealanders and Australians. Either can pick the difference within seconds of speaking but people from other countries almost never can tell the difference.

[@danieldeburgh8437]

He sounds like a typical young Protestant from Antrim/Down to me. I’m Irish though. These Protestant accents seem to be slightly ‘posher’.

[@highvolumepls]

Yes, his unionist family Background had all the Perks n Jobs n Privilege.

[@JoeMcnicholas-ki7vt]

When the DUP paint themselves into a corner, they call for more paint.

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[@DeadLongEnough]

The book "32 Counties" by Kieran Allen is a must-read to understand the continuing roles of ingrained British Imperialism and the neoliberal ideologies of the Republic in keeping Northern Ireland divided.

[@jooseppielleese7156]

Yes comrade we need to teach huns about Karl Marx, that will solve everything.

[@joprocter4573]

Only ingrained thing in NI. and Republic is aphreid school route destroying fabric of country in many ways

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

He was one of My lecturers in UCD.

[@joprocter4573]

He only saw one side on coin

[@carlosangui7490]

lest's go eire, get rid of all that pesky engliards in your island

[@thomasreilly6362]

Very Interesting but I would sound a word of caution. Sinn Fein are riding high because that are not in power and are offering the world. Reality, will see a drop in support if they can not deliver once in power… We are still 10 years away from getting a referendum over the line and not just 51% but closer to 60% or above consistently. Sinn Fein will be in power in Ireland soon and the all Ireland economy is growing month on month.. The Alliance party will peek at the cost of Unionist parties. Demographic are a key factor. As the biggest party Sinn Fein will pick the best and easiest portfolios and dump the difficult ones on the DUP like education and health..

[@noelpucarua2843]

A referendum with 50% +1 support is all that is needed. Just like in the Brexit referendum. Trying to change that will destroy democracy.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Sinn Fein are embracing the open borders Globalisation project just like the other establishment parties.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

i am fully convinced that when the time comes we will get the Alliance to back a United Ireland so our coalition of Sinn Fein SDLP Alliance when the time comes will get a Referendum over the line

[@garygibson5669]

Will ROI actually want us or indeed be able to afford us if a consensus is reached in the future?

[@imastaycool]

The same old boring argument that loyalists love to beat to their drum (pun intended) Ireland can very much afford the north and it's been widely proven by economists. Have you not done any research? Afraid to? Firstly, the island is becoming one economically speaking with trade now booming between north and south - this makes reunification much easier. The north's annual subsidy from Britain is around the 9 billion pound mark, however, not all of this would carry over into Ireland. Economists estimated it to be approximately 2 or 3 billion pounds instead and would merely result in a minimal pick-up by Irish citizens (it's short-term and manageable). Also, you're forgetting we'd be benefitting from the north's resources, too! Trade is already huge right now and also tourism, don't forget 💚 Another thing is there are already Irish companies working both side of the imaginary border. Are you forgetting that we supply your electricity 😏 Irish energy company Viridian owns electricity and gas supplier Energia, two power plants in Dublin and PowerNI in the North. Also, agriculturally, Cavan-based Lakeland Dairies is the island’s second largest dairy co-op and works both sides of the imaginary border. Resources will spill over between north and south creating an economic balance. It won't be perfect or plain sailing, but who said it would be? At the end of the day, the people of the north voted to remain in the EU. Young people want that and young people want change. Britain isn't viable anymore and its GDP is decreasing. The Scots will get independence as the movement is growing. The Union is breaking up. The Tories don't give a rats about you all. You cost too much for them and they don't get back. Public spending on services is often higher in the north than other parts of the UK. The north is only doing better now thanks to the protocol and its vote away from Brexit. Blame it all on Westminster, pal 👍

[@joehill7837]

You are spot on. Along with 6 additional counties to relieve the Republic's tourist trade, Belfast as a major city will take the pressure of Dublin. There will be no cost to the Republic.

[@garygibson5669]

@@imastaycool thank you for your insight. Not going to be straightforward that’s for sure.

[@taintabird23]

'Will ROI actually want us or indeed be able to afford us if a consensus is reached in the future?' Yes to both questions. But it will have to happen gradually with plenty dialogue. There will be many arguments about governance, flags, constitutional changes etc.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

of course not every single person would agree but if Northern Ireland voted Yes on Irish Unity the majority od people in the ROI will also vote yes and able to afford you ? yes we will actually no one seems to bring up how the US and the EU are setting aside a Massive financial package for Irish Reunification

[@Anthony-ro4ek]

The demographics are changing in the north of ireland and it is this and not necessarily political parties that will ultimately lead to a united ireland

[@roysimmons3549]

Is that so and...

[@danielmcghee1]

An excellent commentary by Sam Maguire

[@noelpucarua2843]

Except he never mentioned the DUP's links to Loyalist paramilitaries.

[@frankoneill5675]

@@noelpucarua2843 DUP's link to Unionist terrorists

[@johndevoy5792]

Sam, Sam, unionism is in decline, give it 10 to 15 years to a United Ireland

[@eamonnleyden7040]

People are poor and hungry and need some help. You can’t eat roads or flags

[@patobrien6364]

Ben has his finger on the pulse

[@robertstrong6798]

Why are unionist party votes declining , could it be the Torry party ?

[@arktos298]

Dolours Price.

[@brendo3526]

The DUP and the unionists voting more right wing handed SF this election and it will keep happening as the unionists have removed the middle ground bit by bit on every election since the good friday agreement

[@j2msu341]

I can see a day in the not too distant future when Britain withdraws,just like Hong Kong, weather the people like it or not !

[@hypsyzygy506]

The UK left Hong Kong because the lease ran out. The UK had no legal alternative, because China had no intention of renewing it. If the UK hadn't recognised the Republic of China and the People's Republic as the legitimate successors to the Chinese Empire things might have been different.

[@j2msu341]

@@hypsyzygy506 yes you are correct, i was using it as an example, the British government could pull out of NI tomorrow and there's not a thing anybody can do ! The is no wealth in the place for them to have any strategic interest i am surprised they have stuck it so long !

[@dolmen6613]

that's the only way there'll be a united Ireland - cos neither the North or the South will vote for it

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

@@dolmen6613 please the South would vote for it if the North voted for it

[@dolmen6613]

@@kurtpunchesthings2411 -sure - the South can't wait to take on a bunch of whinging scroungers costing 11bn a year .. that'll solve all their problems

[@allansutcliffe648]

I hope the government won,t be blackmailed into giving the parties billions of £s for just doing there job.this is tax payers money and i would resent any bribes given. Northern ireland is only 3% of the population and they have had more than there fair share of funds.

[@NorthernIrishCitizensAlliance]

There was no Sinn Fein victory, there was a realignment of the Nationalist vote from SDLP to Sinn Fein and a splitting of the unionist vote, largely in favor of the Alliance party. The overall Irish unity percentages have been relatively static for years.

[@75YBA]

There are more of us. Cope. 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@FRAaaaaaaa776]

We're is northern Ireland? Is that my birth place in the North of Ireland the island that has the Irish sea between England Scotland & Wales not far off France where we used to play hurling in the summer from morning til 10pm nearly every day getting dark @ 10pm !! The good aul summer days an ice pop all day and you were grand

[@michaelmccarthy9411]

Why does this channel not interview an unbiased commentator? Failing that, one from each side might make sense.

[@PNETriffid]

On a slight aside, can anyone explain why Sinn Fein still fail to represent their voters at Westminster? They turned up to the Coronation for God's sake, so why not swallow their pride and take the oath, like the SNP or half of the Labour MPs.

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

Sinn Fein and more importantly its voters realise Charles is a powerless figurehead and attending the Coronation where they didn't take the oath is very different to going to Westminster, the actual power centre, and having to swear the oath to be a MP . Its about actual British rule not pretend British theatre they object to nowdays. Having active MPs in London ends the whole point of the party existing as stand alone force within NI politics. There's already a political force within NI that has exactly the position you want, the Alliance and it getting about 20% of the vote currently. Suggest read up a bit about Nationalist history within the Republic and NI as the basics are going over your head a bit.

[@PNETriffid]

@@user-uy6uc5ey5q Firstly, please don't patronise me. I have spend many hours of my life studying Irish History. Secondly, you miss the point that MPs swear allegiance to the King, somebody you yourself describe as a powerless figurehead. If that is the case whta is the problem, and why does it matter if you attend the coronation VOLUNTARILY anyway? Something that I wouldn't dream of doing. How is it in the interests of the Nationalist community not to be part of the political process in Westminster? Why even stand at UK elections if you want to be 'standing alone' in Ireland? BTW, if you do reply, do so without condesencion or making assumptions about my views on Ireland, a country that I am a citizen of. Furthermore, which 'basics' do I not understand, oh mind reading one?

[@PNETriffid]

@@user-uy6uc5ey5q Also don't tell me which political party has 'exactly the political position' I want. How on Earth do you know?

[@joehill7837]

​@Brian Heller Sinn Fein's elected representatives are Irish, not British. Why then would they attend a British parliament and make decisions on behalf of British people. Their electorate would not vote for them if they did. Even though Sinn Fein doesn't take their seats in this foreign parliament, they still represent and lobby on behalf of their constituents (unpaid) Attending the coronation was nothing more than a gesture. I hope this has helped with your Irish studies.

[@PNETriffid]

@@joehill7837 My point is, why would they stand for election to the UK Parliament in that case? Surely by doing so they are in some way acknowledging British rule. Plus, are you seriously suggesting no decisions made at Westminster affect Ulster? I suppose the vote on Brexit in 2019 (when the Tories were a minority governemnt) had no consequence for NI. Could they not at least step aside and let the SDLP represent Nationalists?

[@johnroche6333]

Will it be possible to vote on a unified Ireland?

[@Backpfeifengesicht45]

As per the Good Friday Agreement, it will.

[@roryoneill9444]

If you are in Ireland, yes.

[@derry3344ii]

The days of Catholic down trodding is slowly being eroded

[@fToo]

Sam speaks so much sense - but I really don't buy his "3 party system" claim. This may well happen in future, but the current percentages just don't bear out his claim. It's currently more of a TWO plus FIVE party system !

[@johnroche6333]

❤

[@endintiers]

Duh. It's because people in NI want to be in the EU.

[@andressanchezcasado4433]

Scotland and NI maybe. We love you

[@Packyboy]

listening to Sam leaves me in no doubt that English was his major a uni. He needs to tone it down a little for us lesser mortals. I am a little glacier like in my listening. Bottom line which party is going to take the young lads off the corners and into jobs into careers. Which party is going to give a future a representation a say in how we are governed. The rest of that old bollocks is just for the birds, but we know the birds feed well in Northern Ireland.

[@frankdunne3440]

I obviously can't speak for everyone, but i am sick of the same monotonous rhetoric they speel out...why bother interviewing them...just rerun a previous tape.

[@mauricerose3082]

...Tyrants of Northern Ireland...?

[@johnwalsh6832]

It's all about insecurity max they are not comfortable in their own skin and with the Catholics over taken

[@highvolumepls]

Sam, we ll still give you an sf badge

[@danielmcfarland6116]

An United Ireland will only bring back the troubles, hear and all this talk about United Ireland only will cause tensions to rise .while there is peace leave sleeping dogs lay

[@highvolumepls]

His accent says it all, middle class, arrogant and head deep in the sand

[@Ceiteach.O.Duibhir]

Sinn fein will be at thetop in the dail after the next election in 2025. Like the DUP, Fine Gael & Fianna Fáil's popularity is at an all time low while sinn fein is growing. As many are aware during the troubles an episode of star trek was blocked from being viewed in both Britain & Ireland about a united ireland in 2024, now the only way that'll happen is with sinn fein at the top in all of ireland. But that's not the case in the dail, the only way that'll happen is if there is an early elect in 24 for whatever reason. Sinn fein will gain a majority of fianna fail who is currently neck & neck with them. Though not in government officially because of Fianna Fáil and fine gael making one with the greens to keep sinn fein in the opposition because theyre afraid of losing power. Anyway their days are numbered & a united ireland will happen before the end of this decade

[@telhadaway3833]

North and west Belfast

[@tomswanton9529]

Move on

[@adarkimpurity]

A lie he told was - the opposite; Unionists increased their total vote tally- he is talking about vote share percentage- he clearly doesn't understand how numbers or elections are interpreted- espcially in NI.

[@roryoneill9444]

That is not the whole truth but the Unionists are still the largest minority. The Unionist parties got DUP: 184,002, UUP, 96,390: TUV: 65,788, total: 346,180 in the Assemble elections, while SF and SDLP got 328,625 votes combined. However, there was 755,263 total votes for the Local elections and 873,787 for Assembly Elections, so I am not going to crunch the numbers to know the difference as that would not be "like for like".

[@adarkimpurity]

@@roryoneill9444 Yup, making my point and moreso- and Alliance voters heavily skew for the status quo and even staying in the UK when push comes to shove- so there is potentially a landslide if a poll was called.

[@roryoneill9444]

@@adarkimpurity Not really, Unionists out number Nationalists by less than 18,000 voters. The Alliance Party got 116,681 votes in the Assembly election & the Alliance Party is anti-brexit so could vote for joining the EU but it is more likely that Alliance party voters wouldn't vote in a border poll but there are possibly unaligned Unionists and Nationalists that don't normally vote (as turnout was 63%) that might in a referendum...

[@adarkimpurity]

@@roryoneill9444 You just don't see it, kinda desperate ;) Ireland will never 'unite'; the Troubles will start again and how will you unite with people that hate the idea. The status quo is the answer. Plus it's up to the UK to call a poll, which we can decide to just not do ;)

[@roryoneill9444]

@@adarkimpurity Unfortunately, the status quo ended with Brexit. The Uk will just kick out the North, if the Troubles kick off again & the first IED goes off in a British city. Loyalists will choose to adapt or emigrate, in the event of a Border Poll on Unification. At present, the Nationalist vote isn't strong enough to carry a referendum, so SF will vomit out meanless rhetoric like Nigel Farage but SF doesn't want a referendum with them out of power in either Ireland or the North. Just before the next General Election, you will see SF ramp up the rhetoric in both Ireland and in the USA. At present, SF has a dilemma, to pursue the middle ground in the North, they will have to talk up how well Ireland is doing under FG/FF but that will looking badly on them..

[@rockontommy6295]

Theres only room for one unionist party which would put sinn feinn second biggest party not that it matters people's more interested in health wealth education i for one would like to see border poll because honestly think be a shock for sinn fein the mount of there people that would like to stay part of the union.

[@Backpfeifengesicht45]

Every time there's an election, the fake brits say this. However there's a distinct whiff of Judean People's Front/People's Front of Judea to the fake brit movement in the North of Ireland. They just don't get on, hence the fragmentation.

[@rockontommy6295]

@@Backpfeifengesicht45 I detect a sinn fein supporter .

[@Backpfeifengesicht45]

@@rockontommy6295 not in the slightest. Never voted for them. Just because I point out the flaw in a fake brits point, that doesn't mean I'm a shinner.

[@roryoneill9444]

Really, Sinn Fein doesn't want a border poll any time soon, as Brexit does more and more damage to the UK, it will make it easier for Sinn Fein show how bad the Uk is doing..... but they can't mention how good Ireland is doing under Fine Gael, inflation down to 5.4% in May and unemployment at a record 3.8% in May & SF definitely does want to explain the 400 diplomatic meetings the Irish Government under FG in every EU capital to make the Irish border an EU red line and that Leo got both the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland & Winsor agreement to give the North the best of both worlds. Under the present Government the Irish economy has grown with a record budget surplus of €8 billion in 2022 and possibly a budget surplus of €10 billion in 2023. Also Unionists don't want to explain that Northern Ireland, 2.5% of the UK's population, seems to have a budget deficit of about 25% of the Uk's overall budget deficit, particularly with places in England like the North East, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside having massive poverty issues & the West midlands having the highest unemployment figures in the UK at 5.1%, the North of Ireland has the lowest in the Uk at 2.5%..

[@roysimmons3549]

Yeah and the fish in the channel are all French.

[@highvolumepls]

Why pander to hypocrites???????????

[@multymedia5320]

Time for a 31 county northern ireland, cork can remain the peoples republic of cork and we will put the border round it. Voteail 31 C NI

[@dexstewart2450]

Dear people of the Republic: vote for adding a huge Unemployment bill and gangsterism...

[@roryoneill9444]

From the ONS in the UK "For the three months ending March 2023, the highest unemployment rate estimate in the UK was in the West Midlands (5.1%) and the lowest were in both the South West (2.5%) and Northern Ireland (2.5%)." so are you sure you know what you are talking about. As for organised crime Ireland has the Kinahan Cartel.

[@snugnodge]

Communist SF don't want us ruled from London but are happy to have us ruled by Brussels 😂. #noto39 the Cromwell amendment

[@weezersthebluealbum9479]

SF, Communist? If only!

[@snugnodge]

@@weezersthebluealbum9479 you obviously dont talk to any of them or have delved into it too much,,check amendment 39 to see.i like to call it the Cromwell amendment

[@roryoneill9444]

Ruled by Brussels?...... Ireland told the EU to make the Irish Border a EU red line and also that the Northern Ireland Protocol was to be part of the Legal Framework of the Withdrawal Agreement. The UK is ruled by Russia via the City of Londongrad and there is even Russians in the House of Lords.

[@Raininginasmr]

Most irish won't say it out loud but most will vote no! It will cost us billions and completely trow a black ink on a white sheet, we don't want the north or sf the brits can keep it,

[@joehill7837]

A 2022 Irish Times survey showed support for Irish unity in the Republic of more than 4 to 1. A united Ireland would not cost the Republic anything. Academic studies have already proved this. Maybe you should just speak for yourself.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

@@joehill7837 yea lol like i get not 100% of people would vote yes but you are deluded if you think it's ever in danger of being rejected bare Minimum 70% of people will vote Yes

[@TOFB]

Disagree. It was heading Sinn Feins way anyway with the north’s demographics. Unionists population is declining and Nationalist is growing.

[@joprocter4573]

Groom n indoctrinate group show real terrorism scheme

[@highvolumepls]

DUP Orange Order au revoir

[@machrijam]

I think we can say Sam McBride speaks with more than a modicum of confidence. The jaws of the other ‘participants’ in this video are on the carpet. Sam is the Einstein of Norn Iron politics.

[@stevensum2011]

Lol i love brexit...😂

[@sandrabrowne2350]

With Brexit as been acknowledged a turning point in attitude the only question remains is when unity will be achieved and the configuration politically electorially to reliase this outcome. There are permanent partionists even in the ROI who constantly use the economic argument to delay this outcome even though Northern Ireland is heavily subsidised by UK government ironically most of all by a Tory government not by the British taxpayer much to the chagrin of these same taxpayers. Finally as been stated the Orange fiefdom was never a permanent solution the days of Empire are over its time for quasi colony to end and a united Ireland in a progressive Europe. Leave comments no censorship.

[@SunofYork]

Geordie bird struggles to put a "T" in "party".... Succeeds sometimes

[@dodi1986]

United Ireland on the way

[@ParcelOfRogue]

Viva Alliance . Stuff sectarianism!

[@thomash6497]

I think your analysis overstates Brexit as a factor and is rather unfair on both Sinn Fein and Alliance. Brexit has emboldened the racists/bigots/xenophobes on the far right and fired up the reactionary loyalist base from the older generation. However, the leadership of Sinn Fein positions the party as a left of centre, modern, progressive party that has proudly embraced pragmatism, multiculturalism, internationalism and grown up politics. It is the party of the young, the party of human rights, social justice and equality. The Republic has been transformed from a small-c conservative country with reactionary attitudes into an increasingly modern, dynamic, outward-looking, inclusive and socially liberal country over the last 50 years. This is the Ireland than Sinn Fein now confidently represents. It is a poaitive and hopeful vision that speaks to a political culture that is far more appealing than the backward-looking, politics-of-grievance loyalists and their culture-war chums in the WM Tory Govt.

[@kevinwillis6707]

its almost as if he is stuck in his unionist slant...

[@imastaycool]

Britain and even the UK as a whole is disunited politically, socially, culturally and linguistically. The poor political choices and decisions of Brexit have made the lack of unity ever clearer for the entire world to see. It's not just disunited, it's also completely imbalanced. Politically, it has devolved governments, but most of the power lies in Tory Westminster which has the UK at political loggerheads. These devolved governments squabble and fight amongst each other which details the disunity. Brexit was divisive and it shows how disunited the UK is with the occupied region called "Northern Ireland" and the country of Scotland voting No to Brexit. The UK is literally split down the middle in the Brexit debacle which makes it politically disunited. Furthermore, the UK isn't a voluntary union because Scotland is actively being denied another independence referendum post Brexit - this, again, makes it a disunited partnership + an imbalanced and undemocratic one. Welsh and Scottish independence is growing while talks of Irish reunification are on everyone's lips - this, again, demonstrates a disunited and imbalanced union. Socially, culturally and linguistically it is also divided and disunited as the different parts have their own culture and language + Britain has become increasingly "British Asian". Brexit itself limits multiculturalism and encourages exclusive nationalism and nativism which in effect breeds racism and xenophobia (the very core of Brexit and Brexiteers). Try convincing yourself that Grim Britain is united, but it's DISUNITED and IMBALANCED as well as UNDEMOCRATIC and UNJUST. And it's actively breaking up which is the ultimate win 😅