But why were they angry? Hadn't the thousands who signed Ulster's Solemn League and Covenant less than ten years before partition at least saved (most of) Ulster for the Empire? That's what annoyed them: since when had Unionists become Separatists? The same Covenant began by stating that:
Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as of the whole of Ireland... (my emphasis)The essence of Unionism back then surely meant the union of the British Isles - as certain as the Irish Republic declared in 1916 meant the whole of Ireland. Partition, of course, left neither Unionists nor Republicans with what they had originally wanted.
But my conversation got me thinking. The decimation of the Ulster Unionist party in the recent UK general election points to a sea-change in the political configuration of unionism in Northern Ireland. Many within the broader unionist community are engaged in re-imagining a future direction for unionism in light of these changes. It's time for unionism to look outward, as it has been put recently.
So here's my proposal. Why don't unionists take the opportunity to begin negotiating a new political configuration for these islands, starting now? They have the double advantage of retaining a veto on any referendum on a United Ireland, and a conservative government - their natural ally - in power in Westminster (albeit in coalition). They could negotiate from a position of relative strength (i.e.: relative, say, to ten years time when they might comprise a minority of voters in Northern Ireland).
What would they negotiate? In no particular order, here are some suggestions:
- a United Ireland on their terms: including quotas for unionist TDs
- a separate Ulster Authority - comprising the nine counties perhaps, and thereby atoning for the 'sin' against so many unionists in Monaghan and Donegal - with separate spending and taxation powers
- the re-entry of the Republic of Ireland into the Commonwealth
- a permanent inter-governmental secretariat between the new Irish (32 county) and British governments with guaranteed Unionist representation to co-ordinate relevant policy issues (especially vis-a-vis the European Union)
- Membership of NATO for the Republic of Ireland with closer cooperation between defence forces on these islands
- The recognition of unionist culture - including the Orange Order - for the purposes of equality legislation etc
- the rotation of the presidency of Ireland between former Republic of Ireland and former Northern Ireland representatives (though we sort of have that now, come to think of it...)
And who knows: it might even be feasible to have it all sorted by Friday, 28th September 2012 - the centenary of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant. Queen Elizabeth might even pop over to give the new arrangement her blessings. Even Sir Edward would approve I'm sure.