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I would vote unionist depending on whatever party I deem is doing enough. I guess some people would vote DUP because they don't want to split the vote. People have their own reasons for voting as they do. Same as in America or anywhere else.
That seems reasoned.
However it does not explain why they went from the UUP which dominated the DUP, just as the SDLP once dominated SF.
You and others have pontificated as to why Nationalists have voted SF and derided them for it because of the connection to the IRA.
Yet no one has expounded upon why the majority of the Unionist community went from the more moderate UUP (which helped bring about the Good Friday Agreement), to making the anti-GFA party of the DUP the most powerful party in NI
There's also the small 'Traditional Unionist Voice' party in NI, I've no idea where they get their votes from, maybe disillusioned former UUP voters who don't like the DUP for some reason?
As far as I know the UUP was always seem as a very 'establishment' party with lots of British military and NI police (RUC) connections while the DUP tapped into the votes of protestants who didn't necessarily see the establishment as representing them or their interests as well as getting votes from the more fundamentalist versions of protestant religious sects.
There's also the small 'Traditional Unionist Voice' party in NI, I've no idea where they get their votes from, maybe disillusioned former UUP voters who don't like the DUP for some reason?
As far as I know the UUP was always seem as a very 'establishment' party with lots of British military and NI police (RUC) connections while the DUP tapped into the votes of protestants who didn't necessarily see the establishment as representing them or their interests as well as getting votes from the more fundamentalist versions of protestant religious sects.
Wow that is an interesting perspective, as it almost mirrors how some feel here across the pond regarding establishment Republicans, vs. insurgents like Donald Trump who is very unconventional.
There's also the small 'Traditional Unionist Voice' party in NI, I've no idea where they get their votes from, maybe disillusioned former UUP voters who don't like the DUP for some reason?
As far as I know the UUP was always seem as a very 'establishment' party with lots of British military and NI police (RUC) connections while the DUP tapped into the votes of protestants who didn't necessarily see the establishment as representing them or their interests as well as getting votes from the more fundamentalist versions of protestant religious sects.
TUV ( Jim alister) make the DUP look like screaming liberals, they are fringe in terms of outlook, " not an inch"
TUV ( Jim alister) make the DUP look like screaming liberals, they are fringe in terms of outlook, " not an inch"
One of the things some of our fellow posters have been reluctant to list are the reasons they would oppose being part of the RoI. Naturally they could say culture and tradition, but when asked to give specific reasons, we are not given much.
I suspect some of the reasons of old such as fear of a government under the control of the Catholic church, would have been one related to social issues like abortion, homosexuality, birth control, etc.
Yet now with abortion less restricted, a open homosexual at the head of government, and birth control being a quaint notion of the past, many of those fears can no longer be used.
One of the things some of our fellow posters have been reluctant to list are the reasons they would oppose being part of the RoI. Naturally they could say culture and tradition, but when asked to give specific reasons, we are not given much.
I suspect some of the reasons of old such as fear of a government under the control of the Catholic church, would have been one related to social issues like abortion, homosexuality, birth control, etc.
Yet now with abortion less restricted, a open homosexual at the head of government, and birth control being a quaint notion of the past, many of those fears can no longer be used.
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The Republic of Ireland in 2019 is avidly anti Catholic
Ulster unionists still want little to do with the place
Well what do you think are the main reasons then, since our Ulster brethren in this thread seem reluctant to specify why?
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I think the cornerstone of ulster unionist identity is staunch opposition to all things Irish, it defines itself through distrust of it's neighbours
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