Unionists shouldn’t worry a Sunak victory

Unionists can be paying extra consideration than most to the Conservative management contest as they wait to see if the subsequent Prime Minister improves their fortunes regarding the Northern Eire Protocol.

In reality, nonetheless, we have to keep in mind that not a single Conservative MP voted in opposition to the introduction of the NI Protocol regardless of an inner border being the very antithesis of taking again management.

Many unionists appear to be hoping for Liz Truss to win and whereas I actually want her properly if she succeeds I believe unionism is unsuitable to imagine that anyone Prime Minister is considerably higher for us than every other. I do have doubts that her tax chopping plans are probably inflationary and overly simplistic. I imagine the Conservatives are probably the most profitable celebration in historical past due to a perception in good husbandry which at current appears to discover a higher expression in Rishi Sunak. Sustaining a powerful UK economic system will do extra to protect the Union that trusting within the unionist sentiments of anybody Conservative MP.

On paper Boris Johnson appeared like he ought to be nice for unionism, stuffed with patriotic zeal and for many people a really likeable persona however in follow he has been probably the most devastating prime minister for unionism within the historical past of Northern Eire. Whereas he’s hated in unionist circles it’s laborious to think about {that a} Jeremy Corbyn premiership would have achieved us any extra hurt.

I don’t suppose unionists ought to worry a Rishi Sunak victory. He’s proper to wish to keep away from a commerce battle and in the long run we should attain a cope with the EU slightly than merely appearing unilaterally. Many English MPs are nether unionist or nationalist of their sympathy however fairly merely unaware of Northern Eire till they’re the individual answerable for taking selections.

Unionists ought to fear much less about who’s within the prime job and easily cope with whoever is in entrance of us by holding our nerve and refusing a return to a Stormont Authorities till the Protocol is eliminated or so emasculated as to be nugatory to the EU.

R G McDowell Belfast, BT5