THE future of the Union is looking increasingly uncertain.
Last month’s elections saw pro-independence parties elected in Scotland and Wales while support for Irish reunification is growing and Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill is the first nationalist to hold the position of First Minister.
The National travelled to Belfast for an exclusive interview with O’Neill and to speak to people in the city about what they think the future holds politically.
Ellen Crawford, who came from a Protestant background, told this paper she can “only hope” that the recent election results combined with growing support for reunification in Ireland meant the campaign against Westminster rule was gaining momentum.
The 24-year-old said: “Young people’s opinions are changing a lot recently and I think young people are more in favour of it than ever, especially young Protestants. I come from a Protestant background and I’d be more in favour of it.”
She added: “I think we’re mixing a lot more in the city. When I grew up, I grew up in the countryside so people were very separated.
“But when you come into Belfast, it’s not so separated like that, especially in the city centre when you’re going out with people so I feel like people have understood different viewpoints better and have a different idea of it.”
Asked if she thought the UK-wide movement against the Union was gaining ground, Crawford said: “I can only hope so, to be honest. I think that young people are getting more politically active and voting for independence more for each of the parts but we’ll see, I hope so.”
Paul Jenkins, who works for a curtain sales company, told The National that Brexit was “one of the worst things ever” but said he remained undecided on reunification.
He said: “I’m disappointed that we came out of Europe, I’ve just got an Irish passport in the last few days. I think it’s one of the worst things ever with Brexit, controversial view probably.”
Asked if he would vote for reunification, Jenkins said: “I don’t know. I don’t want their high tax system, I don’t want their bin charges and so on and I still think that up here is good within the UK but, like anywhere, there’s problems and issues.”
He said that Northern Ireland had improved greatly in recent years.
“The place has gotten a lot better, whereas if you’d come in here, I remember I’m coming 53 on Sunday, I remember coming in here and there would have been a ring of steel here as a child and getting searched by soldiers and soldiers with guns in the streets and everything,” said Jenkins.
“It’s a much, much better place, probably one of the safest cities. My son works in House of Fraser here, you come in here you see all kinds of nationalities, all colours and myself, I think that’s fantastic.”
A young man who did not wish to be named told The National he believed Ireland “should all be one country and it should be a secular state that’s not divided by religion” and said more people were coming around to this view.
He added: “It’s the modern era and I think that most people would be in favour of it eventually, I think it’s only a matter of time anyway, I think the vote for Yes [to reunification] keeps going up over time.”
James Quigley, who spoke to The National outside Belfast City Hall, said reunification was “long overdue”, adding: “Britain has taken over this country, they’ve occupied it, they’re still occupying it, that’s why I’m a nationalist.”
On the support for Scottish and Welsh independence, he said: “We’re all Celts in our blood and everyone dislikes the English, even in the World Cup.”
