EU referendum

As it has already been well documented that Brexit proved to be a political and economic disaster for all sections of our divided society, it should not come as a surprise to learn that it has also had a hugely negative impact on community relations.

It is increasingly clear that we are entering a defining period for our devolved institutions, with a realistic prospect that they will be permanently abandoned if the DUP carries out its bellicose threats of recent days.

I HAVE a suspicion that historians will look back on May 6 2021 as the day the United Kingdom began to unravel.

There can be no doubt that all the members of the Stormont Executive have faced enormous pressures since their powers were restored just over a year ago and that many errors of judgment have taken place across the board.

The sharp increase in political tensions and security concerns surrounding the Brexit debacle over recent days should not come as a surprise.

When Taoiseach Micheál Martin said last week that English nationalism was the driving force behind the result of the UK's 2016 EU referendum, he was simply stating the obvious.

If a senior Stormont figure, regardless of party affiliations, was found to have travelled some 260 miles to the other end of Ireland at a stage when their partner had Covid-19 symptoms, in clear contravention of the lockdown rules, a resignation or dismissal would surely have been inevitable.

When Irish observers consider how the leaders of the three main British parties have approached the crucial Brexit question during the Westminster election campaign, they can only be deeply alarmed.

Regardless of the outcome of today’s finely balanced vote in the House of Commons, it is clear that the DUP’s decision to enthusiastically support the Brexit project will go down as among the worst strategic blunders in the history of unionism.

CLAIRE Hanna has urged the DUP to reflect on the "company they're keeping" following David Cameron's blistering attack on Boris Johnson and senior Brexit figures.