‪#‎AE16‬ ‪#‎SluggerReport:‬ Unionist dilemmas around Martin McGuinness as First Minister?

On the #SluggerReport this morning I ask three questions about unionist fears over Martin McGuinness becoming First Minister:

  • Firstly, who is it that’s fearful? It’s not primarily those on the extreme edge of Unionism/Loyalism to whom the DUP are making this regular pitch since, these days at least, they are likely to be unmoved by such a pitch (given the DUP already work with Sinn Fein on day by day basis).
  • Secondly, what is it that they are fearful of? Sinn Fein’s favoured answer to this in the past has been that ‘they don’t want a catholic about the place’. But like as they seek to “sell Fresh Start as joint delivery” that’s perhaps not as much in favour as it once was.
  • Thirdly, when will it change and for what reasons? If we consider that Martin’s own history rather than his political typography might be the real problem most of middle-Unionism has: would that change if a ‘civilian’ SF leader came forward or an SDLP leader?

The #SluggerReport goes out live every morning at 10.30 every morning from Monday to Friday on the Slugger Politics Facebook page.

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