English nationalism may kill off the Union

IT is ironic to think that, while Irish and Scottish nationalism failed to break up the Union, there is a very good chance that English nationalism, aided by the DUP, will do the job.

Brexit is essentially an English nationalist project; a desire to control “our borders, our money, our laws” is their demand. One could express it as “ourselves alone”.

Why is it dangerous to the Union? The answer is that, if Brexit is achieved, Northern Ireland’s constitutional position will once again be front and centre on the political landscape.

While the UK and Ireland are both in the EU, the border is of little consequence.

We are all Europeans, so people from north, or south, cannot be said to be foreigners. For the vast majority of unionists and nationalists, this is an agreeable compromise, offering the best of both worlds.

Why would the DUP want to destroy this? Brexit will institute a hard border psychologically, culturally and economically.

Why do the DUP support Brexit when it is such an obvious gamble with the Union? I think the answer lies in the unusual situation of the party in Westminster.

In normal times, its role is ornamental and irrelevant, since, like all small parties, it is too small to make a difference to votes.

The decision to back Brexit was, of course, a massive mistake, but the party is now trapped. It is now forced to work outwardly for Brexit, while privately hoping fervently that it will fail.

The position of Sinn Fein is the exact opposite to the DUP. It has the numbers to bring down the Government and, perhaps, install a Labour one, but the last thing it wants to do is destroy Brexit. It outwardly rails against Brexit, while privately fervently hoping it will succeed.

If Brexit does come about, then I believe English nationalism will have delivered a massive blow to the Union and Northern Ireland’s constitutional position within it.