Opinion

Provoking political unionism makes it easier for it to be obstructive

Just like the Queen’s Christmas message, 2021 ended with a Mary Lou interview treating us to her considered thoughts. Coming less than six weeks since her US fundraising tour, with Omicron now raging everywhere, Mary Lou chose to give the unification pot another stir. Of course, this monomaniacal blether does not move the political agenda forward one bit, north or south. But then it is not intended to do so. Over the past 18 months, Mary Lou noted a referendum unlikely before 2032, and another representative speculated unity unlikely within a generation (25 years), suggesting they know it is blether and don’t mean a word of it, so why do it then? Such regular pronouncements can only be intended to distract Sinn Féin’s political base from their empty record of power in Stormont, with the bonus of winding up unionists.

Beyond scoring cheap political points, a fundamental question arises – to what extent has any given Sinn Féin policy statement made reconciliation, a necessary precondition for unification, more or less likely? Perversely, the more Sinn Féin poke and provoke political unionism, just as it was with the “armed struggle”, the easier they make it for unionists to be obstructive. For Sinn Féin a hearts and minds strategy is essential if they want to move the political pendulum in the desired direction. Currently opinion polls consistently show Sinn Féin hovering at or below 25 per cent of the electorate, indicating they cannot even persuade a majority of the nationalist community to vote for them, never mind the other half of the population. So, to put it mildly, unification is a work in progress.

Harold Wilson famously said a week is a long time in politics. On that measure the next five-year assembly term will be a comparative eternity, during which time a unification referendum is highly unlikely.


So, rather than serving up a crowd-pleasing but ultimately self-defeating Punch and Judy election campaign, one wonders what Sinn Féin will offer the electorate?


One might suggest 24 years after the Good Friday Agreement, a Sinn Féin election campaign with the sole ambition to crow atop the Stormont pile while baiting our fellow citizens is not enough.


If they were the serious politicians they claim to be, surely they will have something positive to offer us all?

FRANK HENNESSEY


Belfast BT9

Kate Hoey should withdraw remarks

The beginning of a new year and unfortunately the same old toxic views from prominent Brexiteer Kate Hoey about certain individuals and the professions they get into within and across our society. Her most recent comments/concerns as part of the foreword to a new report (‘Vetoing the Protocol’ – a Unionist Voices Publication) claim ‘...that many professional vocations have become dominated by those of a nationalist persuasion, and this positioning of activists is then used to exert influence in power’. Activists really? Not professionals – those making a difference.

These assertions from Kate Hoey are wholly unacceptable and the fact that they have been printed without any challenge is also worrying.


Many people opt, decide and pursue an education, get employment, have opinions and contribute to society. Personally, I make no excuse for getting an education – she should withdraw her remarks.

BARRY FENNELL


Belfast BT11

Could it be the truth hurts?

As someone from the unionist community I find the recent  comments from Kate Hoey and Jamie Bryson regarding anti-union bias in journalism and law laughable. Could it be the truth hurts? Facts – journalists write stories about the UVF being the biggest criminal drug dealing gang in east Belfast, something the PSNI has confirmed. Lower Shankill UDA drug dealers, PSNI confirmed this also. Beatings, shootings, Mount Vernon UVF and collusion – again accepted by the PSNI Chief Constable. Drugs, extortion, murders, attempted murders in unionist areas by loyalist  paramilitary gangsters and where is the call for police action and condemnation or a call for witnesses and arrests by Kate Hoey or Jamie Bryson in their statements. Do any of them believe in cross-community work, opinions and cooperation?  Does Kate Hoey know that the UVF has murdered 32 Protestant unionist people since being on ‘ceasefire’? Is it true Hoey voted for the protocol? Have they forgotten that the majority of people in Northern Ireland voted against Brexit? There weren’t any tiny protest marches, rallies or rioting when Brexit happened against the wishes of the majority of the voters. Neither Hoey nor Bryson have a mandate from the unionist community and it’s not hard to see why.

RAYMOND McCORD


Victims’ campaigner,


North Belfast

Ulster Scots becoming a laughing stock

As I listened to the recent New Year’s Eve Kintra radio programme for Ulster Scots listeners on BBC Radio Ulster, it was like time standing still.

Two years ago I was berated   for suggesting that the Ulster Scots language/dialect was dead and that the Kintra

programme for Ulster Scots listeners was a presentation of platitudinous drivel which got progressively worse on a weekly basis. Having

listened to the latest programme I am quite certain that my measured criticism was correct on both counts, despite not being palatable to

the Ulster Scots hierarchy. Moreover, that BBC Radio Foyle and Ulster allow this apology of an Ulster Scots programme air time is an affront to listeners who cherish this once noble language/dialect.


In future I suggest that they insist that all participants on the programme have an Ulster Scots vocabulary of more than three words, which would sound not to be the norm at present. Failing that, put it in the hands

of those who will prevent it from becoming a laughing stock.

WILSON BURGESS


Derry City