The DUP are absolute wankers.

[EmeraldShamrock]

I am not in the UK. I do sympathise with the Brexit disaster unfolding, I know people in the UK have much bigger concerns for their economy, than the NI border and GFA.

I am horrified the DUP were invited in. They are nasty poison bastards and I fear they will not agree to anything because it makes things different in NI. They do not care about cross border business, or fighting, as long as there the same as the UK. It is all a nightmare.
I watched a few clips on YouTube of Pop goes Northern Ireland of different stages during the troubles. It is very good, for anyone unaware of the fighting in NI.
Not an aibu. Just a rant.

rightreckoner- Mainland makes it seem like we’re a backwater hanging on to the coattails of a better state.

Like loads of terminology in NI, words like mainland can be totally logical to an outsider but still really divisive to people who live here.

Same kind of thing with terms like-
The North of Ireland
Northern Ireland
Derry
Londonderry
The six counties
Eire (said when speaking English about the rest of Ireland)

It is a bit of a minefield sometimes.

There is though. There is the Alliance Party. Who never do as well as they should, given the number of people in NI who claim to want to move away from sectarian politics.

@scubadoobie what a brilliant post, couldn’t have said it better myself. It seems to me, as an English person living in NI, that many vote for the DUP because there isn’t ANY viable alternative. The only party that seems even moderately liberal and progressive is Alliance, and even they have some fairly dubious policies. Most people here seem to detest the DUP but what choice is there?

Sorry, that was in response to Facelikeapairoftits.

Mainland as a word is a bit of a shibboleth (as is six counties) certainly among people I know. But to be fair so are a lot of words, phrases, pronunciations. I've a list as long as your arm.

We can say the north of Ireland when referring to Donegal, though, can’t we?

implantsandaDyson Along with “How do you pronounce H?”

But Alliance aren’t vocally pro-choice are they? And didn’t they have that mealy mouthed ‘matter of conscience’ stance on equal marriage? @SheriffCallie

Ah - haitch - always a MN fave

I'd like NI to be an independent state, It costs the UK an absolute fortune. Imagine many people in GB (well England and Wales anyway) would probably agree. If they gave it any thought. Not convinced many people in the republic would vote for a united Ireland either. Set them free. Let them fend for themselves. I'd love to see the outcome of that referendum.

nice. What’s wrong with you?

@Aquilla Didn't the assembly vote to legalise same-sex marriage? Until the totally-not-bigoted DUP blocked it that is.

I say the North of Ireland for the 9 counties
Though I am a republican the nationalist use the North of Ireland too. As in the top of Ireland. The unionist use Northern Ireland as a independant place.

Don't people say 'the North of England'?

I don’t think that would be an unusual opinion in parts of the UK, Posie.

Which makes the DUP’s desperate grip on the Union all the more embarrassing.

Teresa May had no idea of the intransigent nature of DUP when she got into 'bed' with them.
They are power hungry bigots who thrive on nepotism.
Arlene Foster models herself on Margaret Thatcher.
They will bring Brexit to it's knees and hang Teresa May out to dry.

Teresa May had no idea of the intransigent nature of DUP when she got into 'bed' with them.

They're also much better negotiators than she is. "Not an inch"

Don't people say 'the North of England'?

It’s not divide when people use it in a geographical context, but when it’s used to discuss NI specific issues (NHS waiting lists for example) it sets my teeth on edge. As if the people of Donegal or Monaghan give a scooby about day to day issues affecting only residents in NI...

I don’t think that would be an unusual opinion in parts of the UK, Posie.

Unfortunately I agree. NI is the scap goat target and a huge pain for the UK. The people of NI must feel sick with the uncertainty.

All that shit for nothing.

No I don’t think so either penny. It’s still vile. Of course NI costs the rest of the UK a fortune!! They created the fucking damage that turned it into a war zone. Of course they should be paying to put it right. you don’t just get to shit on a nation and then walk away from the clean up operation. “Let them fend for themselves” vile!

Teresa May had no idea of the intransigent nature of DUP when she got into 'bed' with them.

She was strongly warned against it by John Major, who had more of a fleeting acquaintance with them as a party. He predicted this would happen.

I agree it is a vile attitude. After all the life lost, psychological damage caused, the hatred fueled.

The DUP's intransigence is hardly news to anyone who follows politics.

@FaceLikeAPairOfTits @SheriffCallie I used to vote Alliance but got sick of their wishy-washy stance on abortion and gay marriage. Luckily I live in an area where I can vote Green without it being a wasted vote. But found it very difficult when I was in Belfast East and a vote for anyone other than Alliance was wasted.

I want NI to remain a part of the U.K. (for various selfish reasons including access to the NHS) but I will never, ever, ever give the DUP a vote.

@Aquilla Blocking gay marriage against the will of the people and not believing a woman should be allowed bodily autonomy absolutely makes the DUP bigots and as someone who was forced to continue with a pregnancy knowing miscarriage was inevitable and it was just a case of the agonising wait for the baby to die I am quite willing to stand behind that conviction.

YABU and very rude to democratically elected members of parliament by citizens of the United Kingdom.

I presume you are joking @Walkingdeadfangirl