Salmond in Stormont

[Jim]

Well theres no need for NI unionists to want more links with the English, because they've got them. England IS Britain, most things considered British are infact English, but Scotland lags behind even though its the second biggest and second most important part the UK. For once I have to agree with unionists, there should be more links with scotland and ireland, the south has already started, so the north should too.

A lot of English dont like not having devolution, but they've also defeated referendums on it (like the one in the north of england for an assembly similar to wales). The thing is, if you combined NI MPs and Scottish MPs without party politics they'd still not defeat a united english vote which has happened on occasion. Bring in party politics, rebellions are rare and most scottish MPs, since its a labour stronghold (or was), and you get them voting along the english party lines.

[An Fear Dubh]

I think if that is the point of the article then the writer does not understand Unionism/Loyalism. As we have seen various forms of 'Independant Ulster', with Trimble and Co and the Vanguard Party, or the UDA with John McMichael's Independant Ulster, all forms of Ulster nationalism. To name just two varieties.

[Jim]

I thought Paisley has said on a number of occasions that he's an ulsterman first.

[An Fear Dubh]

Yes he did Jim, but what conclusion is that leading you to make?

[Jim]

That he's more concerned with the welfare of Ulster than the welfare of the rest of the union, while still wanting to maintain that union. If anything, he's loyal to the Queen, not westminster.

Maybe i'm talking out of my arse.

[An Fear Dubh]

I would sort of agree with you Jim. He is an Ulsterman first, and he wants to maintain a union with Britain. So I do not see that he has given up his unionist aspirations as the article Setanta highlighted suggested. But he is certainly putting his priorities differently, or maybe they were always this way.