A United Ireland

[poppiesallykatie]

Not a goady thread or to stir, but how many are against it or for it? Obviously many in NI want to part of the Republic, many in NI want to part of Great Britain, how do the British people feel about it?

I'm NI born and bred- before this fiasco I would have described myself as a very moderate unionist because I viewed the UK as offering a better standard of living (NHS etc).

After seeing the utter contempt that Westminster has for us, the disregard for the very fragile peace here and also seeing how Dublin seem to actually care, I'm leaning more towards a United Ireland rather than romanticising being part of a United Kingdom that doesn't want us.

Is that you, Theresa?
Yes. United Ireland - border problem sorted. Just a few people against it. Like I don't know if maybe Arlene mentioned that to you?

There is the Good Friday Agreement.

I vote yes to unite Ireland.

Place marking. Fascinated by how the rest of the UK views NI.

NI here too. I want a united Ireland, I have always identified as Irish, not British. Like a lot of my family & friends I would have accepted the status quo before the collapse of the Assembly and this Brexit shambles for the sake of peace. But now I think a united Ireland is better for both Britain & Ireland if a no deal Brexit goes ahead.

It will never happen

Yes, it will.

From NI as well before Brexit I’d have said it wasn’t realistic but now there’s definitely a shift in mood more towards it being the better option for the country

Yes 'IAmNotLikeThat' There is the Good Friday Agreement. I have read many comments on news stories from the last few days and I am wondering if there is a moderate view or a majority view. 'Istimol', you have jumped in there way too quick.

I'm from ROI so not who were asking but I would strongly be against NI joining the ROI as would a lot of people I know.

I'm from ROI so not who were asking but I would strongly be against NI joining the ROI as would a lot of people I know.

Of course you would be. This place is a basket case- we cost a fortune, why would a small country like Ireland want to take us on for any other reason than nationalism?

You'd also have to make massive concessions to hard line unionists, and god knows what those would be. Probably a set of stamps with Edward Carson's face on them.

DH is from Dublin and we don't know anyone from our circle down south that support a United Ireland for anything other than romantic reasons.

DH is from Dublin and we don't know anyone from our circle down south that support a United Ireland for anything other than romantic reasons.

That sums it up really. The only people who I know who would vaguely support it would do so for misty eyed reasons. It makes no sense for us for any other reasons.

I think some Scots might disagree with the term 'romantic reasons'. . That is what I am asking. Has anyone a really well thought out argument why to keep or not keep Northern Ireland in terms of being British?

I don't think pragmatically the ROI would really want a United Ireland. Also, Unionist/Republican feeling still runs pretty strong in NI and a lot of division and tension would resurface if there was a referendum on uniting.

Really, the best solution does seem to be the GFA with the ability to identify either as Irish or British or both. Which is of course why a hard border is impossible.

I suspect that actually a lot of English MPs, especially of the Reese-Mogg ilk, would happily let NI go.

Does anyone have statistics on what proportions of people in ROI and NI do or don't ^^ want a United ireland now? Quoting from the wiki page on the Good Friday Agreement:

The agreement reached was that Northern Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, and would remain so until a majority of the people both of Northern Ireland and of the Republic of Ireland wished otherwise. Should that happen, then the British and Irish governments are under "a binding obligation" to implement that choice.

I can't imagine many British people objecting to that, if the day comes when a majority in both parts want it- especially now that ROI seems to have escaped from thrall to the church and in some respects is significantly more liberal than NI it sounds like it would be a good idea. From my British POV I'd be delighted if that could happen peacefully.

Has anyone a really well thought out argument why to keep or not keep Northern Ireland in terms of being British?

To put it bluntly, British interference in Ireland is the root of the current situation and each government has a duty to resolve the resulting issues before they can wash their hands of us.

It can't be the case that now our existence is a bit troublesome what with our border and everything, so the Rest of the UK can decide the NI part of the union isn't that important after all.

I have N.I. family. They just want to be left alone, they are fine as they are. Stop trying to force them to merge with the South and stop trying to separate them from the UK by stealth during Brexit.

N.I. has its own culture & its own identity, they want to keep them.

Aloethere - that's very interesting. I always thought ROI would be happy to unite with NI.

From the point of view of a UK citizen, if NI wanted to unite with ROI then I would totally support their efforts to do so. But Northern Ireland is complex beyond belief; all that still simmers away under the surface would explode under referendum conditions.

Recently new to mumsnet 'ErrolTheDragon'; don't know how people do quotes? Anyone?

But yes a democratic move would be most acceptable. But having said that does anyone have any comments on gerrymandering?

Poppy, the reasons for not reuniting Ireland are very complex. It's not the same as Scotland or Wales trying to gain independence. NI is composed of people that feel completely British, and have fought for a hundred years to keep that way. It is also equally composed of people that feel Irish, and who have fought for 1 hundred years to reunite their divided country. If the British government 'gave' NI to ROI they would be basically offering up British citizens to a foreign country. If those citizens want that then that is fine. But we haven't got a Good Friday Agreement for no reason.

Has anyone a really well thought out argument why to keep or not keep Northern Ireland in terms of being British?

Because it isn't an actual option? It IS part of Great Britain - you negotiated hard enough for it 100 years ago.

You can't claim something as part of your nation and then politely shove it onto someone else's plate as soon as it becomes inconvenient. Seriously???

@Walkingdeadfangirl; but they are no longer fine as they are, times are a changing in a very uncertain way, there is more than one culture and identity within the UK.

UnknownStuntman Its interesting listening to a bigot making comments about other people being bigots.