This week 105 people making up a “civic unionism” group signed a letter intending to challenge what they see as nationalism’s assumption that rights, truth and equality are not qualities inherent within unionism.

Herein lies unionism’s fundamental problem: it talks and acts solely within a prism of reacting to or seeking to match nationalism. Having lost the economic and liberal plot of unionism entirely, capital “u” Unionist political parties do nothing to endear a new generation to the cause. Rather than questioning nationalism this time round, shouldn’t civic unionism challenge the dominant force within political unionism, the DUP, on its record? The absence of self-reflection is embarrassing.

Why, for instance, has Westminster intervened in the same-sex marriage debate here, to grant rights that are afforded to citizens throughout the rest of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland? Even if Stormont was up and running and the DUP didn’t have the numbers (30 MLAs) required to block it by abusing the Petition of Concern (again), who would bet against certain other unionists – in the UUP and TUV – teaming up to make that happen?

On rights, truth, equality, and changing perceptions, everything ‘civic’ unionism wants capital “u” Unionism will not deliver. When the DUP ignores the majority of the Northern Ireland electorate’s wish to remain within the European Union, dismisses the Irish language, and brushes the skeletons of RHI under the carpet, the diminishing UUP turns the other way. The likelihood of either party broadening their appeal is evaporating fast.

Unionist parties are unionism’s worst enemy, and demographics shouldn’t make easy reading for those in positions of ‘leadership’. In what interests would a young Protestant member of the LGBT+ community vote for a Unionist party? If a new generation of voters is found far less loyal to parties as their parents, and see their destiny and identity within the European Union as opposed to outside, where are the incentives?

Wasn’t the Unionist mentality of siege so last century? It isn’t just Irish nationalism that perceives Unionism inherently lacking enthusiasm for rights, truth, equality. Maybe ask the British.

Also published on Medium.