AIBU - England couldn’t care less about Northern Ireland

[ThisThatTheOther]

Northern Ireland has seen a return to violence , petrol bombs etc every night for a week now. It’s dominated the headlines here in Ireland. People are worried as peace up north is so fragile. Listening to the radio yesterday an old advisor of Tony Blair was on to discuss. The radio host read out the top 8 listed stories on all main English sites and the violence of Northern Ireland didn’t even feature. It’s the top headline again in all major Irish publications this morning but not in English publications.

Lots of people are employed by the public sector in Ireland, lack of private sector work in NI is an issue.
I assume it would be a drawn out project with financial support for the UK.
The fear of losing NHS and public jobs are scary likewise down here fear of sharing wealth also the divide resistance and violence from NI.
All of this would need to be sorted before a vote.
Germany is a great example.
I don't think Boris and Co don't want the hassle in NI anymore this reunification talk is exactly what they want to hear.

I think while we are closer than ever before, we're not close enough for a united ireland just yet. I'm not sure if it will happen in my lifetime, but I reckon it definitely will in my children's.

I reckon the major sticking point will be the NHS - obviously public sector jobs as well, but the NHS will affect most people.

Also, I don't think there'll be any economic benefits strong enough to get a large proportion of unionists to vote in favour of a United Ireland. They'll vote to remain in the UK even if it means living on the streets.

Although, we could quite possibly see the privatisation of the NHS, in which case that would make a United Ireland much more likely, sooner.

I agree @NamechangeApril21, it will happen in our children's lifetime. Even my retired Protestant minister from a v traditional unionist background has now said he would like to see a united Ireland. Attitudes are changing. But the obstacles, as laid out so well in this thread by many PPs, are huge - and the biggest is that NI is a burden, quite frankly. It's a shame because it's a wonderful country with fantastic opportunities for tourism, a great IT sector and, if the DUP would stop fucking it up, the chance of securing an enviable position as a place with cheap, well-educated labour that has access to both the UK and EU markets. I would find it very hard to life anywhere else now as for me, the good points (great education, beautiful outdoor spaces and scenery, thriving culture scene, brilliant restaurants and cafes, and most of all bloody wonderful people) far outweigh the negatives (sectarian idiots, drug problems, low wages).

Education does seem to be the place to start. I hear lots about how brilliant NI schools are but suspect that the good results might be at the expense of those who do not do well, who end up with few prospects and are then fodder for the loyalist groups stoking the fires of hatred.

I agree that education is the way forward. More integrated schools would be wonderful.

@peachgreen

I agree *@NamechangeApril21*, it will happen in our children's lifetime. Even my retired Protestant minister from a v traditional unionist background has now said he would like to see a united Ireland. Attitudes are changing. But the obstacles, as laid out so well in this thread by many PPs, are huge - and the biggest is that NI is a burden, quite frankly. It's a shame because it's a wonderful country with fantastic opportunities for tourism, a great IT sector and, if the DUP would stop fucking it up, the chance of securing an enviable position as a place with cheap, well-educated labour that has access to both the UK and EU markets. I would find it very hard to life anywhere else now as for me, the good points (great education, beautiful outdoor spaces and scenery, thriving culture scene, brilliant restaurants and cafes, and most of all bloody wonderful people) far outweigh the negatives (sectarian idiots, drug problems, low wages).

I agree NI has so much going for it to make it a wonderful place to live. It's somewhere we are considering to retire to in years to come although I can see how fragile the peace is there right now. We've stayed in some of the most beautiful places and met fabulous people. We've spent time in Belfast and experienced the tourist attractions touring the peace wall and visiting both sides. What strikes me is that there doesn't seem to have been any movement towards integration in housing in areas of Belast since the GFA. The gates are still shut each evening to protect both sides I assume. So during the day people go off to work and school and rub along together but come nightfall they're what appears to be segregated. I know it's only a small area of Belfast and there are plenty of areas thoroughly integrated. But there also does appear to have these deeply divided pockets in other cities/towns.

You could also argue that the South doesn’t care about the North, England doesn’t care about Wales etc.

In reality these are divide and rule generalisations.

I would hope that most decent people would care about things that are not happening in their immediate neighbourhood but which are nevertheless important.

@WoolieLiberal

You could also argue that the South doesn’t care about the North, England doesn’t care about Wales etc.

In reality these are divide and rule generalisations.

I would hope that most decent people would care about things that are not happening in their immediate neighbourhood but which are nevertheless important.

I agree with that. England is very London/SE-centric (in general). I care about everything- from bombs exploding in the Middle East to what happens in my own town (thankfully nothing much- it's very boring here!). It's all horrible.

Been teaching in London for 15 years, every year I will mention to Northern Ireland to my year 10s, year 11s and they won't have a clue what it means or that UK owns it.

@thatwasme22

Been teaching in London for 15 years, every year I will mention to Northern Ireland to my year 10s, year 11s and they won't have a clue what it means or that UK owns it.

Steady there - someone was ranting earlier about NI not belonging to anyone and how we’re just a bunch of parts of a union huddling near each other.

Though if that’s the case the Republic of Ireland may as well join the UK. Problem solved. Ireland united. EU border no longer an issue. Irexit.

I guess from my perspective NI being united with GB doesn't really make sense anymore. Unlike Wales and Scotland we are on a different island, and Ireland is hardly a 3rd world country - they speak English and they are a democracy. It makes far more sense for the island of Ireland to be united as one. The original basis of division - religion - is no longer relevant as modern Britain is largely secular we are not a staunchly Protestant country anymore. Times have changed.

@gottakeeponmovin

I guess from my perspective NI being united with GB doesn't really make sense anymore. Unlike Wales and Scotland we are on a different island, and Ireland is hardly a 3rd world country - they speak English and they are a democracy. It makes far more sense for the island of Ireland to be united as one. The original basis of division - religion - is no longer relevant as modern Britain is largely secular we are not a staunchly Protestant country anymore. Times have changed.

Hmmm I don’t think the split was because Ireland was a third world country - and it was a democracy and they did speak English.

But the unionists won’t accept it. Better the Republic join the UK so we have England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and the governance of Ireland will be devoted to Dublin - like we do with Wales and Scotland.

And maybe we can have Passports for the different parts of the Union. Green for Ireland. Blue for England. Maybe Red for Wales and White for Scotland.

Sorted!

“Devolved” to Dublin!

Yeah, right.

As if the former colony is going to leave the EU which has been pretty good for Ireland and join forces with their former masters.

Them, the ones who were exporting food right the way through the famine.

Mmn654123 The internet has me so messed up I can't tell if you're joking or not! (I'm going with you are)

Though if that’s the case the Republic of Ireland may as well join the UK. Problem solved. Ireland united. EU border no longer an issue. Irexit. I can only assume you're pulling the leg. 🤣
It was good to hear youth leaders from both sides spent time with the teenagers trying to prevent a street war.

Omg 😂😂👏👏

“But the unionists won’t accept it. Better the Republic join the UK so we have England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and the governance of Ireland will be devoted to Dublin - like we do with Wales and Scotland.

And maybe we can have Passports for the different parts of the Union. Green for Ireland. Blue for England. Maybe Red for Wales and White for Scotland”

This absolute looper is colour-scheming passports 😂

Ehh no... No that won’t be happening!

On a more serious note, nah this is a UK problem, especially post-brexit-Covid.
Britain needs to engage with your people, the Unionists. Offer them a solution. They’re yours.

Bed made.

In all seriousness though, the DUP are an utter disgrace. As a pp pointed out above, NI is actually in a potentially Golden position, being both in and out of the EU. They ought to be putting people first and exploiting the hell out of this situation.
No. They’re more interested in raddled bigoted hatred, and even denying the same rights other people have in other parts of the UK
Same-sex marriage only very very recently and I think abortion access is still very fraught (if not worse?!)

This could be true - the timing just clicked! Noahs mum was finally starting to get some media coverage following the images from her walk.

Absolutely criminal of the FM to ignore this horrific case. A 14 year old boy found naked in a storm drain far away from home and no push to investigate or even concern. Shocking. #RememberMyNoah

Also, I don't think there'll be any economic benefits strong enough to get a large proportion of unionists to vote in favour of a United Ireland. They'll vote to remain in the UK even if it means living on the streets.

I disagree, when it starts hitting people in the pockets, they'll show their true allegiance, which (as my granny used to say) is to the shilling and the half crown, rather than the Crown.

#RememberMyNoah 😪 How on earth are they getting away with it.
It's criminal.

@EmeraldShamrock

#RememberMyNoah 😪 How on earth are they getting away with it. It's criminal.

It is heart breaking and almost sinster. 💔

@SunscreenCentral

I think the colour coded passports could do it. It could be the UK’s USP! We could give the Irish green passports! They won’t get that from Brussels......;-)

We could pop a shamrock on it. Would look lovely. Who wouldn’t want one?