People still stuck in ideological bunkers 20 years after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement

ONE thing that the Belfast Agreement did was to settle the question of consent for Irish unity.

That should have meant that I could now consider casting my vote in f uture elections on social and economic matters.

In reality, what has happened is that, t wo decades on, I am still unable to vote on any issue outside my ‘ traditional’ position.

That is because, if I were to vote across the divide (and there are many reasons why I could choose to do so), that vote would be weaponised in the propaganda that Irish unity is imminent or as support for certain social changes.

It would be used to advance the position that those of a unionist persuasion must again give ground on their culture or beliefs to accommodate others.

Malachi O’Doherty (Comment, October 29) makes my point. Malachi gives us an imagined moderate Catholic nationalist, considering voting, or joining, a new-thinking DUP. He then lists what would prevent that happening.

This appears to be ever y thing from Arlene’s brooch to Remembrance Day. In fact, ever y thing that makes them British.

Take those things away and you have an Alliance voter who blows wherever the wind (or Twitter) takes him.

So, here I am with no party for whom I feel I can, or should, brave the December weather.

Why vote at all when Westminster will impose whatever any maverick member wanting to make their name puts for ward on our behalf, like it or not?

At least I have a border poll to look for ward to. God help us.

RAYMOND HUGHES

Ballyclare, Co Antrim