Following on from the Brexit referendum result I would call for a referendum to unite Ireland within the European Union. The northern part of this island voted last month to remain in the European Union but like Scotland are now being dragged out of the EU against their will by English votes. The Scottish people will soon call another independence referendum – which I have no doubt they will win this time – leading to the end of the English controlled United Kingdom. Ireland needs to follow suit or suffer from being isolated with an increasingly inward-looking English nation. It never made sense to have two different administrations on an island the size of Ireland’s but now it is totally ridiculous to have one part of Ireland within the EU and one part of Ireland being forced out of the EU by the English.
A recent report by Canadian consultancy KLC and University of British Columbia academics, who have carried out similar reports on German and Korean unification, suggests ‘significant long-term improvement’ in the economies of both the north and the Republic resulting from unification leading to a £36bn boost to the Irish economy. Northern Ireland would particularly benefit from unification with its exports initially rising by 5 per cent and long-term GDP per capita increasing by four to 7.5 per cent. This report finally brings an end to the lie that the north of Ireland is dependent on the block grant for survival.
Added to the growing evidence that a unified Ireland within the EU would have a major boost to the people of Ireland was made by the respected economist David McWilliams who said “unionists have now an economic incentive to join a united Ireland because the union is impoverishing them”.
With all the expert evidence now pointing to the benefit of a United Ireland within the EU, the time is now right for the people of Ireland to unite as an outward looking people and cast off the shackles of the inward looking English Tory upper classes and show the world what a fantastic job they can do in running their own Island within the EU. Perhaps one day Arlene Foster might lead an Irish trade delegation as taoiseach of a united island and a united people.
SHEAMUS GREENE
Co Fermanagh
Lexiteers made a difference in Brexit outcome
I am a long-standing admirer of Eamonn McCann as a man of principle on so many issues.
His latest essay in principle along with some others on the left was to support Brexit, or as he would have it Lexit (the Left Leave Campaign), in the recent referendum.
Their arguments against the EU were indeed powerful, though as it has represented a coming together of 28 broadly conservative or at best social democratic states including Britain and Ireland it is less easy to argue that it was worse than its constituent parts.
The principle then was fine, but what about the practical consequences or real politik of their intervention? The problem was that the referendum only offered simple ‘in’ or ‘out’ options, either ‘Remain’ or ‘Brexit’. There was no ‘Lexit’ option.
Lexiteer votes were simply lumped in with Brexit votes and were happily gobbled up by the unspeakable victors in a British context, ranging from Boris Johnson to Nigel Farage. Indeed the Lexiteers may have made the difference in the narrow victory for Brexit.
Elsewhere Marie Le Pen is just one of Europe’s proto-fascist leaders to welcome the principled left contribution to this effect. Our immigrant communities have judged the consequences right as they now live in additional fear amidst what in Connolly’s words could aptly be described as ‘a carnival of reaction’.
It may be that we have been precipitated into a new era of economic crisis, austerity, and indeed constitutional crisis, and an unintended consequence except for those who have long dreamt of the terminal crisis of capitalism.
In practical terms this implies hard times which we can hardly wish on the working class, and which we will all have to resist.
This is why I and many of my friends on the left voted ‘remain’ in the referendum and will support every effort to obstruct the implementation of the Brexit outcome.
Is McCann’s position and that of People Before Profit to campaign by contrast for its rapid implementation and in the company of Nigel Farage and others of that ilk?
JOHN GRAY
Belfast BT15
Binary voting inadequate
Like many other referendums the recent EU poll has shown that binary voting can be inadequate and inaccurate.
The methodology is also divisive so, all but inevitably, campaigning was adversarial and, actually, horrible.
In the vote itself, while many people voted positively, lots only said what they were against.
In Germany ‘constructive’ votes ask those who oppose option A to propose an alternative, option B.
A similar process would have asked those opposed to the UK being in the EU to suggest that the UK should be in the EEA perhaps, or independent of both the EU and EEA, or whatever. So maybe a multi-option ballot would have been required. Such ‘positive thinking’ could well have been the catalyst for a more constructive debate.
The average ‘age of a people’ cannot be determined by a majority vote. Indeed, with a binary question like ‘Are you young or old?’ the answer is bound to be wrong. With a 10-option choice, however – ‘Are you in your 20s, 30, or whatever?’ an accurate answer could indeed be ascertained ‘democratically’.
A similar principle should apply when determining the ‘will of the people’.
If, then, the lessons of last month’s events are to be learnt, future referendums should be multi-option ballots, with the various options set independently. As befits a plural society in a pluralist democracy, controversial matters in Stormont should also be subject to (preference) votes on a plurality of options.
PETER EMERSON
Director, the de Borda Institute
Belfast BT14
Nothing to fear but fear itself
Amidst the aftermath of the EU referendum result, which was a reaction against falling wages and rising prices, there is now another conundrum to deal with. The public sector workers who may lose
their jobs.
Northern Ireland’s economy has always been too dependent on the public sector. It is part of a general malaise which stifles genuine opportunity. I’m old enough to remember the entrepreneur from Northern
Ireland who devised the sellotape marker in the late 1980s. There doesn’t seem to be anything similar here.
Also the issue about farmers losing subsidies can be counteracted with the fact that dairy farmers aren’t getting a decent enough price for their milk.
Plus, the issue about benefits is bogus because there has been a recent cash incentive by the Bank of England. It is patching things up for now until more genuine reform can be sought. The Front Nationale in France actually reintroduced benefits in areas of France they were in charge of that had been removed by the socialists. Perhaps an assurance that benefits will only go to bona fide citizens will resolve matters.
Things will be difficult at first but this referendum outcome is an act of tough-love. We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
DESMOND DEVLIN
Magherafelt, Co Derry
Deriding meaning of independent
So, Nicola Sturgeon wants Scotland to join the EU. I have to ask is this the same lady who screams for Scotland to be an independent nation free from Britain? She is going the wrong way about it.
For Scotland becoming a member of the EU derides the very meaning of the word independent.
According to my dictionary the word means ‘free from the influence or control of others’, joining the EU would be an inappropriate act to achieve this aim.
HARRY STEPHENSON
Kircubbin, Co Down
