Queen’s University Belfast & Irish Unity Poll

 photo B0GXu_ECcAACsaW_zpsb876ae73.jpg

By Joe Dwyer

Also appeared on Student Broad Left, Friday 24 October 2014

Next Monday (27th October) the Students of Queens University Belfast will be asked to vote on the proposition “Should Ireland be a united and independent country?”

The petition for such a campus poll garnered 700 signatures at the University’s Fresher’s Fair. Sean Fearon, chairperson of QUB Sinn Fein, said that it was signed by “almost two persons per minute”. This shows the enthusiasm and dynamism amongst many young people in the north of Ireland for a debate on their constitutional future. As demonstrated during the recent Scottish Referendum, such debates can galvanise younger people to get involved, including those previously detached from politics. By initiating this debate the students of Queens have also taken a step towards the making the case for an actual border poll for the people of Ireland, as outlined in the a Good Friday Agreement

Such a poll, and indeed Ireland’s future, is not only of interest to those who live on the Island of Ireland. There is an impetus on all progressives and the left, whether in England, Wales or Scotland, to ensure that the Irish question remains on the political agenda in Britain. This is especially true of students. As Salvador Allende said: “To be a student and not a revolutionary is a contradiction.” In the same vein being a progressive student in Britain means challenging the continued British jurisdiction in Ireland. The British Left needs to engage in the discussion and become vocal persuaders for unity. The time is right for a debate on the North’s future, and where better to start the debate than on the campuses. There is nothing to fear from debate, dialogue and discussion – such civic conversations are what developed and drove the peace process.

Few realise that the provision for a border poll was an integral element of the Good Friday Agreement, which states:

    “… it is for the people of the island of Ireland alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively and without external impediment, to exercise their right of self- determination on the basis of consent, freely and concurrently given, North and South, to bring about a united Ireland, if that is their wish, accepting that this right must be achieved and exercised with and subject to the agreement and consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland …”

MurphyIt makes little sense for an island of 6.5m people to be split into two separate tax systems, two separate currencies, two separate legal systems, and two separate competitive economies. A single island economy would provide the opportunity for fair and harmonised progressive taxation, regulation and trade. Partition has failed woefully. After partition, two conservative states both ruled by the old orders were created. In the North, this meant a reactionary, sectarian state, based on discrimination of the nationalist minority and denial of democracy through electoral gerrymandering among other things. The ensuing struggle against this was in essence what resulted in the Good Friday Agreement and the creation of mechanisms to overcome that discriminatory basis of the old state. The Good Friday Agreement rests on the foundations of equality and respect for diversity. Unfortunately, these are the things which rejectionist unionism cannot come to terms with. Ultimately, a United Ireland is the most viable and progressive option for the future of the island.

For those who do not follow politics in the North of Ireland, it can appear that, with the peace process, all matters are now settled. Ireland is not on the political agenda for many. However, in recent times the process has come under threat from an
Anti-Agreement axis. The extreme fringes of Unionism, who have never reconciled with the new dispensation, have been allowed to dictate the agenda of the larger Unionist parties and are seeking to derail the wider process. Just as we have seen in Britain with the UKIP-tail wagging the Tory-dog, so too have the DUP and UUP fallen under the influence of this small rump of Anti-agreement Unionists. From opposition to a Peace and Reconciliation Centre, to the recent refusal to appoint an Assembly Speaker – Unionists have begun to step away from the spirit of the agreement. Unfortunately the British government has allowed this unionist intransigence to prevail.

However, new talks are currently under way under the auspices of the Secretary of State for the north Theresa Villiers to unlock this stalemate. Such is the current attitude of Unionism, the DUP refused to attend the first session of talks because a representative of the Irish Government was present. This needs to stop and progress needs to start again. There is a vital need to build a loud and visible pro-Agreement axis. The history of the Peace Process has shown that Unionism will only act when it is compelled to do so by the British Government. We in Britain need to take our responsibility for holding the British government to account and calling for progress in the current talks. The British government is a joint-guarantor of the agreement, in recent times it has failed in this remit.

It is important that progressives and people of goodwill in Britain help to build this Pro-Agreement sentiment. Such a movement reflects majority opinion and would seek not only the full implementation of outstanding elements of the Agreement but would also promote and nurture the spirit of the agreement.

Whatever the outcome of the Queens poll, this initiative has set out the key discussion centre stage. Students here should take the opportunity this presents to also join the discussion and link up with progressive students in Ireland, by supporting self-determination and the peace process. It’s a good time to put Ireland, and the unfinished business of Britain’s colonial role there, back on the agenda.

For those interested in finding out more about the need to build a pro-Agreement axis there will be a public event “Why we need to build a pro-Agreement axis – Unionist Anti-agreement axis threatens Irish democracy” with Conor Murphy MP on Tuesday 25 November at 7:30pm in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA.