Discussions concerning constitutional futures will, unfortunately remain, oppositional. Pro-union voices need to do several things that will aid their cause. First, they must engage in debate. Second, they must provide a pluralist and inclusive pro-union vision. Third, many have not made up their mind about constitutional futures.
They need to hear a positive vision from modern pro-union voices. The pro-union messaging that must emerge is about key values not only of and for the union but of a new and dynamic society with the confidence to provide an evidenced alternative to the Nirvana politics of Irish unification. Pro-unionism has to genuinely build parity of esteem and mutual respect. Pro-unionism needs informed ballast through the following evidenced statements:
- Northern Ireland is not some wreck washed up on the shore. It is a vibrant place that has done well to come out of conflict
- Northern Ireland is not some economic wasteland that lacks green shoots of post-conflict economic growth
- The pro-union community is not broken and in decline
- The pro-union community does not lack culture and community capacity
- The pro-union community is not beyond debating and engaging with those who wish for a united Ireland
- The pro-union message is emerging with organisational capacity previously unknown.
A pro-union perspective should uphold:
- The value of the Union
- Provide evidence to support that value and debates concerning how the Union can evolve
- Promote parity of esteem and mutual respect in the conduct of debates concerning constitutional futures, economic prosperity and a vision for a shared and agreed Northern Ireland
- Challenging sectarian and hostile commentary, within and beyond unionism, that undermines pluralism, reconciliation and respect for accommodation
- Promote alternatives to the erroneous and evidenced claims about Northern Ireland, its economy, future and reconciliatory intentions
- Highlight economic positives and the capacity to grow investment, jobs and technical upgrading
- Highlight that the pro-union community is invested in social progress, reconciliation, and positive futures
- Use evidence to highlight that the desire for Irish unification is not growing/is growing slowly and a diverse majority want Northern Ireland to work for all of it citizens
- Host and organise debates with nationalism/republicanism and those undecided and in so doing promote pro-union voices and perspectives
- Promote why a united Ireland would undermine well-being, economic futures and erode standards of living
- Unite across pro-unionism and generations regionally and nationally to uplift and bring greater visibility to the pro-union message
Those who are pro-union sit across a spectrum that includes left/right, urban rural, and liberal/conservative etc. However, on the themes above there is coherence and support for a co-joined pro-union perspective. In terms of social media, more organisational zeal, wider conversations and central messaging is required. At present the pro-union contribution is scattered and lacks cohesion and thereby influence. No coherence around messaging has arisen in the face of the increasingly loud, if incoherent, messaging that emanates from those who are pro-unity (e.g. Think32). The messaging that emanates from the pro-unity groups is organised but lacks either a rigorous evidential basis to confirm it claims or is mere hubris. Any pro-union messaging has to be evidenced, accessible and vision based. The pro-unity voice is at times inflexible and is therefore limited by a lack of diversity of argument or any intention to build an argument not based upon its own imagined merit. Therefore, a co-ordinated pro-union voice must:
- Engage with the pro-unity community
- Deliver the best of pro-union thinking
- Engage in a focussed pro-unity message across social media (Tweets, blogs, opinion pieces)
- Engage the media and undermine the narrow and unrepresentative depictions of the pro-union community
- Debate with those who are pro-unification with more precise arguments
- Promote the term pro-union and in essence provide a new brand that speaks to those who understand the benefits of the Union but who would not come from PUL community backgrounds (pro-union support sits among migrants, non-Protestant backgrounds, the 35% of those who are pro-union but find political party unionism unattractive)
- Secure buy-in from political party unionism (MLAs/councillors Tweet etc)
- Speak directly to the NIO and British government
- Speak directly to the DFA and the Dublin Government
- Provide practical and evidence-based arguments.
- Assist sections of the pro-union community who feel inarticulate, unheard and require support in messaging across the UK and elsewhere
If the above is not driven or achieved the future is a united Ireland.
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