East Derry
UUP
I am unapologetically a unionist who believes very much in the union between ourselves in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. I firmly believe that economically and culturally the best future for the people of the Province is within that context.
As a democrat, I have no difficulty with those who aspire towards a united Ireland provided they try to persuade with the power of their argument rather than bomb and shoot their way towards that goal.
In economic terms, the UK Exchequer gives a block grant of approximately £16 billion plus a further £3 billion in social security payments. The UK Exchequer raises approximately £12 to £13 billion in taxes from Northern Ireland. Effectively, therefore, we are being subsidised to the tune of approximately £6 to £7 billion by the UK Exchequer.
Do the tax payers of the Republic of Ireland want to bear that financial burden? Finally, do the people of the Republic of Ireland want one million disaffected unionists?
3 comments:
He makes a good point and is correct at the present time I think, as the cost of the O6C is often highlighted as a deterrent.
The one million disaffected unionists have nothing to be disaffected about except losing their connection to the UK. But any Republic guarantees the right to religious and civil liberties for all, including the right to be a political unionist.
I have found this to be an interesting series and i commend ógra for using the blog in an innovative way.
Particularly interesting to hear the range of views, from thoughtful and rational, right through to intransigent and irrational.
Engagement with our opponents is always useful and we should strive to understand the positions of others and the reasons why they hold such positions.
Anon,
isn't it interesting that he presents an economic defence as much as a cultural one.
There is a shift in some of the positions. The blanket defence is repalced with an argued defence. Which means we can engage more and more in debating specifics of unification.
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