United Ireland By The Back Door?

I’ve been pondering this quite a bit recently. You look at the news of “On The Run’s”, claims of the Review of Public Administration being weighted in favour of Sinn Fein, etc, etc, and sometimes you wonder whether the British Government is working for Sinn Fein. I’m thinking this, and I’m not a Unionist!

You know what I’m talking about - despite overwhelming public opinion, the Government seems hell-bent on pushing through concessions that are pissing off politicians and ordinary pleblings alike. (I include myself in pleblings - I’m under no illusions!)

The Newsletter carries a letter from a concerned Unionist fellow about this distinctly un-democratic activity.

These humiliating, demoniacal acts imposed upon the Unionist people and others are just awaiting around the corner for you, if and when you achieve your intended aims by the driving force policies of the G8, the standards of which you presently do not display.

Not just imposed upon the Unionist people. Imposed upon all of us, whether we like it or not. Does it fall under the legendary ‘mandate’ that our parties claim we gave them? Certainly not on the ground. Most people I’ve spoken to are completely baffled by what’s going on between the Government and Sinn Fein. Have our political parties bickered for so long that the British Government have picked their horse and are sticking with it?

Today, Peter Hain is claiming that “[the Government] won’t accept any wrecking amendments [to the OTR legislation]. If there are strong cases put we will look at that constructively.”

My own question is “Are Sinn Fein considering anyone else in their drive for a United Ireland, or is it one triumphalist victory over another and to hell with the consequences?” I really do wonder. And I’d be especially interested to hear from Chris on this.