Politics

Nationalist leaders welcome letter from civic unionists calling for 'frank and fulsome' debate

Signatories to the latter included Mike Nesbitt, Rev John Dunlop and Peter Shirlow
Signatories to the latter included Mike Nesbitt, Rev John Dunlop and Peter Shirlow Signatories to the latter included Mike Nesbitt, Rev John Dunlop and Peter Shirlow

A letter from more than 100 unionists urging nationalists to discuss building a ''society for the betterment of everyone'' has been welcomed by Sinn Féin and the SDLP.

The open letter is said to be a response to two recent letters from nationalists which called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to protect the rights of Irish citizens north of the border.

Headed 'A positive challenge to Northern nationalists', a total of 105 unionists – including politicians, business people and academics – call for "a transparent and inclusive debate concerning rights, truth, equality and civil liberties".

The signatories challenge what they call nationalist assumptions that such values are not embedded within civic unionism, pluralism and other identities.

In response to the nationalists' letter's claim that they have not been afforded "equality, rights and respect", the unionist correspondence states that "civic unionism and other identities are not resistant to claims of equality and full citizenship".

"We find it frustrating and puzzling that civic unionism, pluralists and other forms of civic leadership have been rendered invisible in many debates focused on rights and responsibilities," the letter states.

"It has reduced our capacity to be heard and undermines the power of reconciliation to shift society away from stale and limiting notions of identity.

"We have worked for peace and reconciliation and in so doing have had open and transparent engagement with civic nationalism."

Among those putting their name to the letter are former Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt, Queen's University academics Peter Shirlow and John Bew and Presbyterian minister Rev John Dunlop.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill welcomed the initiative, saying the "campaign for rights and equality" belonged to everyone.

"There is no such thing as nationalist equality or unionist equality ­– there is just equality for all," the Mid Ulster MLA said.

"This space is common ground for all who cherish equality and rights. Society can only be enriched if citizens come together in common cause to ensure that rights are acquired and protected."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said politicians were merely "one strand of a society".

"As our politics struggles to work together, it is vital that a confident civic society begins to engage with one another and feels the freedom to do so," he said.

"As political leaders we all have a duty to reach beyond our own base and engage across our community."

The Foyle MLA said he would seek to engage with the letter's signatures in the weeks ahead.