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.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty