The issue is not whether the UK has the stomach, it is about Dublin. I have no doubts that HMG in London would not lose a moments sleep if NI was to join the South. Nothing but hassle and its MP's a constant thorn in the side.

But for any unification process to be successful it needs the Unionist population in the North to be largely on board. Which would mean Dublin would need to be able to offer a continuation of a raft of public life issues that we take for granted in the UK but which are almost non-existent in the South. Just health-care alone is a big enough issue on a variety of levels. Could Dublin, especially in light of a potential hard Brexit scenario which leaves it effectively isolated from its beloved EU along with having to compete, and invaribly losing, its market share in the UK for a variety of agricultural products cope with having to mirror, for better or worse, our NHS? Because if it has to offer it in Belfast then it would have to match that in Cork.

And if the Loyalist terrorist organisations were to decide to resist, then I hate to think how Dublin would cope with a full on insurrection. It lacks the security apparatus to even begin to think about combatting the level of ferocity that would be unleashed.

On our side of the water, we quite rightly despise the IRA but the reality is that towards the end of the troubles it was the Unionist groups who were by far the most barbaric in their actions in the North. One theory I read was that the IRA were actually looking for a way out due to the realisation that they could not match the Unionists in terms of sheer and unrelenting brutality.

If Sinn Fein get a sniff of power in the South in hardens Unionist sentiment in the North. That seems a no-brainer. And must make wiser heads in Dublin become even less in favour of having to become 'a nation once again'.

Edited by Matov (11 Feb 2020 12.14pm)

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

It is the Elephant in the room. And why the Irish will miss us the most in the EU because we stood up for them on a variety of issues that puts them at odds with what Brussels wants.

Varadkar really was a t*** of the highest order and I am convinced that history will judge him badly, especially given how he allowed himself to be used as Brussels bitchboy.

And also why I suspect that a Sinn Fein led coalition Government might play out well for the UK in terms of dealing with Brexit. Because despite all the EU flag waving there are huge contradictions between what Sinn Fein espouse in terms of economic policy and what Brussels wants to happen. And in that conflict, the Shinners might prove an unlikely allie for the UK.

The ROI needs UK markets. And it needs access to those on favourable terms. No ifs or buts around that. Varadkar played his cards badly, banking on Brexit being canceled and lost.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

Alternatively you partition Ulster into 3 fully Catholic counties and 3 fully protestant ones...the latter to the East.

hey presto, no civil strife. A shrunken but peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland. Cos a United Ireland sounds like nothing but trouble.

ps. Varadkar was deeply unpopular in many quarters in Ireland. His bullying of the UK over Brexit was not supported in ireland, but maybe made Angela Merkel happy.

Edited by PalazioVecchio (11 Feb 2020 6.25pm)

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

visit Glasgow Rangers or Chelsea and hear all the love.

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford