Six years after the UK voted to leave the EU, people in Northern Ireland voted for a nationalist party. Sinn Féin has won a historic victory at Stormont, and a nationalist will become the first minister. While it will pursue its social agendas, it fears that it will hold a referendum on Irish unity.
British Ministers Deny Union’s Break-up
Sinn Féin’s election victory in Northern Ireland has fueled debates over the future of the UK’s central government. British ministers rejected the idea of transferring rule from London to Dublin following the Nationalist Party’s win. It is the first time a nationalist party has become the largest in Northern Ireland Assembly since its creation. Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin’s leading candidate, will be the first nationalist minister in the history of Northern Ireland. Although the nationalist Sinn Féin is now the largest Party at Stormont, British ministers have denied the break-up of the Union. The victory reignites Brexit tensions as both the nationalists and the unionists have disapproved of the post-Brexit trading arrangements. British ministers have promised to negotiate with the EU to change the Northern Ireland protocol. The protocol has separated Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK to transmit goods.
Brexit Helped Nationalists Win in Northern Ireland Election
The UK’s Brexit decision has weakened the DUP and helped Sinn Féin in the recent Stormont election. The protocol regulates trades between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The protocol removes a hard border on Irish Ireland to avoid the recurrence of the Troubles. However, this arrangement has caused a sea border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. This could push the nationalists towards uniting with the Republic of Ireland. In English, Sinn Féin means “Ourselves Alone“, and the Party traces its roots to 1905. The Party split during the Irish Civil War in 1922, and in 1969 the modern Sinn Féin came into existence. The nationalist Party has hailed its victory as a defining moment and called for a debate on a united Ireland. Sinn Féin’s manifesto has called for the British government to set a date for a referendum on Irish unification.
Westminster Should Allow a Referendum on Irish Unity
Based on the Northern Ireland Act of 1998, the British government should allow a border poll in Northern Ireland. It happens when most people would like to leave the UK and form a united Ireland. The Act permitted Westminster to devolve power to Northern Ireland and outlined the process of appointing the first minister. Sinn Féin needed the UK government’s approval for a referendum, but 58 percent of voters had backed the unionist parties. The UK Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has called for stability in Northern Ireland. He urged parties to come together and promised to fix the Northern Ireland protocol. The Democratic Unionist Party fears that the protocol will separate Northern Ireland and the UK. Westminster should show determination and get the issues around the protocol resolved. The DUP has indicated that it will serve with Sinn Féin when the UK government scraps the Northern Ireland protocol.
Sinn Féin Plans to Tackle Real Lie Concerns
It has become a challenge for the UK government to keep nationalistic threats away from the UK’s central government. Sinn Féin has planned to pursue its aspiration for Irish unity while tackling people’s real-life concerns. The Party has long struggled for Irish unity, but it focused on bread and butter issues during the campaign. Sinn Féin’s manifesto includes jobs, an overburdened heal care system, and the cost of living crisis. Sinn Féin’s leading candidate has promised to resolve health care and cost of living problems. Michelle O’Neill had criticized the UK Conservative government’s austerity policies in previous years. She has said the UK government had eroded the capacity of the health and social care services in Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin aims to provide better health and social services; it will also pursue its ambitions for a united Ireland.
The Nationalists Will Pursue Irish Unity
Michelle O’Neill has emphasized addressing the healthcare problems and cost of living crisis during the 2022 Stormont election campaigns. The Party’s manifesto has vowed to pay 230 pounds to every household to help with energy costs. The Party will provide quick and short-term financial assistance to support feed and fuel costs. Sinn Féin has also pledged to put the additional fund into health services to tackle the hospital waiting lists. The Party wants to recruit more doctors and nurses and plans to employ more social care workers and get more facilities. Sinn Féin has won 27 seats in Stormont, ahead of the Democratic Unionist Party with 24 seats. Sinn Féin was the first nationalist Party that could win most hearts since the formation of Northern Ireland in 1921. Now, it can reform a power-sharing executive once the parties reach an agreement.
Conclusion
Northern Ireland will remain a part of the United Kingdom until the majority of the people want it. Northern Ireland can leave the Union after the UK government allows a referendum and people vote for the Irish unity. Sinn Féin‘s recent victory in Northern Ireland election can result in the break-up of the Union. It is a historic victory that a nationalist party has become the largest Party at Stormont. It has secured 27 of Stormont’s 90 seats at the Assembly. The Party will deal with real-life concerns and the Irish unity goals.
The UK government’s Brexit rules have led the voters to shift from the unionists towards Sinn Féin. The unionists want the UK government to deliver its words and scrap Brexit trade arrangements. The checks and paperwork have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The UK government is under pressure to accept the DUP’s demands over post-Brexit trade arrangements so the Party will return to a power-sharing government. Sinn Féin’s victory will not necessarily mean an Irish union, yet, it is a significant threat to the UK’s unity.
