Opinion

Analysis: Foolish to dismiss loyalist discontent in dangerous times

Loyalists from across Northern Ireland attended a meeting at The Con Club in east Belfast to sound out their views on what their response should be to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. Picture by Alan Lewis- Photopress
Loyalists from across Northern Ireland attended a meeting at The Con Club in east Belfast to sound out their views on what their response should be to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. Picture by Alan Lewis- Photopress Loyalists from across Northern Ireland attended a meeting at The Con Club in east Belfast to sound out their views on what their response should be to Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. Picture by Alan Lewis- Photopress

THE meeting of loyalists that took place in east Belfast on Monday evening was significant, given the united front on display by once warring factions.

A move by loyalists as an autonomous group, drifting away from the peace process and towards radical assembly, is the last thing Northern Ireland needs in these turbulent times.

In the past it was loyalist ex-prisoners, people like David Ervine, who urged paramilitary leaders to follow a peaceful path.

Sensible heads and steadying voices within loyalism are now veterans of a certain age, unable to control the growing number of younger, more militant voices.

Brexit has brought old tensions to the fore.

The belief that Westminster has ‘sold Northern Ireland out’ and bowed to pressure from the Irish government has created much resentment.

Resentment that unionism has allowed to flourish by dialling up the political rhetoric.

And while the anger logically should be focused on the Prime Minister, who unionists foolishly put their faith and future in, the target will be much closer to home.

While it may be the Conservative government which has agreed a deal without the support of the DUP, which has kept it in power for the last two years, it will not be under threat if loyalist anger does turn to violence.

Instead that will be focused on the lives and livelihoods of their nationalist neighbours, with talk of also targeting businesses with cross border interests.

There has been much said about dissident republican violence in the event of a hard border, but less about how a disenfranchised, poorly represented loyalist population might respond to an economic all-Ireland.

These are indeed dangerous and troubling times and to dismiss their significance is foolish.