Ulster Unionism

Unconditional Unionism: blind loyalty and why it doesn’t work…

Alex Scates on January 6, 2023, 7:00 am

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For some time, I’ve been trying to put my finger on why unionism seems to be in a state of perpetual existential crisis, and have managed to settle on some semblance of an explanation. I put it down to unconditional unionism, a condition amongst the most ardent political unionists that pledges unconditional support for the UK Government, Union and its institutions. Critically, unconditional unionism restricts any criticism levied towards the UK Government to the superficial, thereby weakening the ability to …

Unionism’s experience in NI should give Alex Salmond pause for thought on Derry’s Walls tomorrow…

Tom Gallagher on June 9, 2016, 11:52 am

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When travelling outside Scotland, Alex Salmond usually doesn’t miss an opportunity to characterise his Scottish National Party as ‘peaceful, civic, and inclusive’. He did it in Bilbao in January when he was receiving the Sabino Arana award from the authorities in the Basque Country. He is likely to bathe it in the same virtuous light this Friday when he comes to Derry to address the city’s Chamber of Commerce He will be in a place where anti-British nationalism is based …