Two Examples of Unionism

As a unionist I have always admired the example set by Sir Edward Carson, his philosophy was whole heartedly "Union first". He was not a bigot nor was he a partitionist, as an Irish unionist and a Dubliner, his motivation was to save Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.

Though he is seen in a very narrow light by both his nationalist detractors and loyalist admirers, his leadership of Ulster Unionists was to him a way to preserve all-Ireland for the union, the 1920 Government of Ireland Act and subsequent partition were by no means his preferred solution but he had to accept the reality of Ireland’s situation.

He acknowledged that a part of Ireland within the UK was better for unionism than no part. Disappointingly he turned down the offer to be elected Northern Irelands first Prime Minister, had he done so perhaps his pragmatic non-parochial example would have created a state free from discrimination and fear of "the other side" or "the enemy within". Instead he chose to warn unionists and Protestants:

"We used to say that we could not trust an Irish parliament in Dublin to do justice to the Protestant minority. Let us take care that that reproach can no longer be made against your parliament, and from the outset let them see that the Catholic minority have nothing to fear from a Protestant majority."

Instead the premiership of Northern Ireland was held by James Craig, an Ulster Protestant and Unionist leader. Craig’s unionism became inward looking and parochial, from being an active part of government life at Westminster, as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland he avoided contact with the UK government whenever possible.

Craig was very much a Protestant with a limited appreciation for civic or inclusive unionism. Although he may not have been an active bigot, like Eamon de Valera his opposite number in the Irish Free State, his national identity was more often than not defined in religious and cultural terms.

In 1931 de Valera declared:

"There was an Irish solution that had no reference to any other country; a solution that came from our traditional attitude to life that was Irish and Catholic."

In a St. Patricks Day address to the nation de Valera reiterated "since the coming of St Patrick 1500 years ago Ireland has been a Christian and a Catholic nation she will remain a Catholic nation". Thus the war of words between the narrow strands of unionism and nationalism was fixed.

Craig declared in return "they still boast of Southern Ireland being a Catholic State. All I boast of is that we are a Protestant Parliament and a Protestant State." His reactionary and narrow view of Unionism was unfortunately the example followed by successive Prime Ministers; similarly those who followed in the wake of Eamon de Valera in the Irish Republic followed his Catholic Nationalist agenda.

My Unionism like Sir Edward Carson’s is not based on a narrowly defined religious or cultural philosophy, although I am proud of the cultural roots I have, by religious or cultural identity is separate from my unionist principles. I believe our place should remain within the inclusive, tolerant and multi-cultural United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

James Craig’s Protestant unionism and political Orangeism are at odds with the civic inclusive nature of Britishness defined within the UK, I am proud of my Irish Protestant roots and Orange culture, but neither of those defines unionism within the UK which embraces many cultures and religions. Unionisms future lies at the centre of the union as a tolerant inclusive society