Independence for Northern Ireland?Many of the catholics in Northern Ireland want their province to leave the UK and join the Republic of Ireland. Many of the protestants want to stay in the UK.
Why not do some altogether different? Leave the UK and don't join the Republic of Ireland. Become a sovereign country and a full-fledged member of the EU and NATO.
The catholics and protestants in Northern Ireland have more in common with each other than they do with the Irish in Southern Ireland, or with the English, Scots, and Welsh of Great Britain. Becoming a sovereign country would force the Northern Irish to face their common goals and challenges and would expose the folly of Sinn Fein's socialist ideals. Southern Ireland has done quite well by adopting free-market economic policies and Sinn Fein was summarily rejected in the recent elections there.
Northern Ireland would have a population of approximately 1.6 million which is close to the size of Estonia or Slovenia. I predict that independence would result in a politically stable and peaceful country.
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Independence saw some support back in the 1980s and 1990s.
Support for it was never particularly high, with only about 6% of the people preferring it over remaining a part of the UK or splitting and joining with the Republic at the maximum. (Although there was a peak value of 11% in a survey taken in 2004).
However, independence would not work because Sinn Féin and the separatist (Republican) movement as a whole are extremist and intransigent. Nothing less then full separation from anything British will suffice for them.
Besides which, we've already drawn up and settled the issue, back in 1920 with the Home Rule Act. This was an internationally-binding agreement, which the Republic of Ireland has continually dishonoured. Until recent years, they claimed part of the UK as their sovereign territory. Progress was made when they changed part of their constitution after the 1998 Agreement.
However, they still insist that everyone refers to the country as "Ireland", which is the name of the island - not their state. It suits their political purpose.
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