You get lots of people talking about Irish nationalism outside of Northern Ireland, but not so much about unionism. That was an opening thought at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, London last Friday evening as Derry-born journalist and author Susan McKay introduced a panel of speakers to explore the future of unionism in Northern Ireland.

The panel consisted of Linda Ervine, sister of the late David Ervine and an Irish language officer; Mike Nesbitt, former UUP leader; Sam McBride, political editor at the Belfast News Letter; and Basil McCrea, former UUP MLA and leader of NI21. The DUP perspective was conspicuous by its absence – the party had been asked to attend. Here are a few questions posed to the panellists on the evening.

 

What does unionism mean to you?

For Mike Nesbitt unionism means values of inclusion and fairness. His fear for NI unionism, he said, is that it is not adapting to the changing political and demographic environment. As natural demographic numbers for maintaining the Union are dying away, there is a need to make as many people as comfortable as possible here.

Basil McCrea declared: “I wouldn’t describe myself as a unionist… I am an out and out liberal.” The media, he said, put people in one ‘camp’ or the other. The big challenge of unionism lies in the question: what is it for? “Nobody wants us,” he said – Dublin or London. Linda Ervine also said she wouldn’t describe herself as a unionist; on the “pompousness” shown by Northern Ireland’s unionist parties, “that’s not who I am,” she said.

Sam McBride said that a long time ago it was obvious what unionism was; today, however, lots of people don’t want to be associated with – and are even openly antagonistic towards – the unionism they see. If unionism equals Protestantism, he said, it’s in big trouble.

 

What can unionism do to break the current Stormont stalemate?

Bluntly, Mike Nesbitt said that unionism can stop needlessly re-naming ships from Irish to English and cutting funding for Irish language programmes – referring to two DUP actions which “took petty and provocative to a whole new level.” Changing mindsets is important: there’s a need for mutual respect, truth, relationships. If we fast forward 25 years, there will still be unionists and republicans, he continued. In his opinion, if in the coming weeks we see a deal to restore devolution the DUP and Sinn Féin will only do this out of self-interest.

Linda Ervine said that if she was in the DUP, she’d be cheering on Sinn Féin for its support for a language once spoken right across the island, and which can still bring people together.

Sam McBride suggested unionism could change its tone and the way it comes across. After the June 2017 Westminster general election, a lot of what was published about the DUP was unfair but whereas previously the party never cared for this they have come to realise it matters. With Labour MP Stella Creasy’s campaign to offer free abortion services in England to women from NI, for instance, they found numerous MPs queuing up to give the party a bloody nose.

 

What about the whole Brexit thing?

Basil McCrea claimed that the Belfast Agreement is dead, advising politicians to tear up the agreement and try doing another one in 15 years. Brexit will be a disaster for the UK, he said, “and you’re looking at the break-up of the UK because of it.”

Mike Nesbitt said that of all the regions of the UK, Northern Ireland will be the most affected and least prepared for Brexit. Trade and finance dominate conversations now, but the existential threat is about identity; people in NI feel that English nationalism came in over their heads, and they’re angry.

Sam McBride suggested that while the unionism was largely for Brexit and that the DUP publicly backed leaving the European Union, beneath the bonnet some party members may not have been so sure. It has destabilised what had been a secure constitutional arrangement.

 

Where will unionism be in 30 years’ time?

To this, Linda Ervine seemed unsure. Unionism chews up and spits out anyone who is progressive, she said. Is it willing to change?

Basil McCrea said the only way to change people’s minds is to run a campaign that doesn’t pose an existential threat to anyone. He said he might not agree with Mike Nesbitt on a lot of things, but the former UUP leader’s decision before the 2016 Assembly election give his second voting preference to the SDLP was the right thing to do. In a concluding remark, he said Northern Ireland’s middle ground needs a media that doesn’t look at new entities as oddities.

Mike Nesbitt returned to the point around changing mindset. Unionism, he said, has always sought a settlement whereas nationalism is always looking for change. Now unionism needs change. Today they’re embracing cross-border trade and health – and this is where Brexit proposes problems.

Sam McBride said that unionism, like nationalism, has shown itself to be more pragmatic than some people believe. What we don’t know is how Brexit will change things. In the coming years we won’t just be looking towards Brexit, but also to the centenary of Northern Ireland’s existence. This will be a time for all sides of the community to re-assess – increased tribalism could be dangerous.


Also published on Medium.