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Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt said unionism needs to wake up over the prospect of a united Ireland.<\/p>\nUlster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt said unionism needs to wake up over the prospect of a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
The former UUP leader also challenged nationalist and republican leaders to tell unionists that they are wanted in a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
His comments came during a debate at St Mary\u2019s University College as part of the West Belfast Festival.<\/p>\n
A panel of four from a unionist background, chaired by commentator David McCann, debated whether there would be a warm house for unionists in a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
The discussion came after comments by former DUP leader Peter Robinson urged unionists to prepare for the possibility of a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
While DUP leader Arlene Foster stood by Mr Robinson, DUP MP Sammy Wilson described the remarks as \u201cdangerous\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Nesbitt said unionists are not good at building relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have heard you legitimately for many years express your desire for a new unitary state on this island, recently I have also heard people talk about protecting the rights of the unionist, British community, but what I haven\u2019t heard is, \u2018we want you\u2019,\u201d he told the audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s not about talking about border polls or new constitutional arrangements, it\u2019s about relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a lack of trust building between the parties at Stormont at the minute, and if you don\u2019t have trust, you can\u2019t do politics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for unionism, we are not very good at building relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnionism should be engaging because you have to engage with what you are uncomfortable with.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also have to look at how we protect unionist and British culture and identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Nesbitt also spoke about how he had built a relationship with former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on a walk around Stormont, revealing that he had once told the senior Sinn F\u00e9in man something which could have ended his own career.<\/p>\n
He said Mr McGuinness had kept his confidence, and described him as a \u201cman of integrity\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Nesbitt went on to tell a story about a frog being placed in cold water which was slowly heated up, which caused it to die, because it did not sense the change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere and environment around this country, between these islands and Europe, everything has changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnionism needs to wake up, otherwise it\u2019s going to be that frog.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was criticism for Mrs Foster over her comment earlier this year that she would leave in the event of a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
The question was put to Mr Nesbitt, along with Professor Jim Dornan, former PUP press officer Sophie Long and David Honeyford whether they would leave if there was a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Nesbitt, Mr Dornan and Mr Honeyford said no, while Ms Long said she had already moved away for a job.<\/p>\n
Mr Dornan slammed Mrs Foster\u2019s response as \u201creactionary\u201d and said he would stay because he wanted to see what the deal looked like.<\/p>\n
Ms Long said she felt Mrs Foster was unable to be \u201cmagnanimous\u201d, speculating that she was \u201cstill traumatized\u201d over what happened to her as a child when the IRA shot her father.<\/p>\n
She also described a united Ireland as \u201cuncharted territory\u201d for unionists and loyalists, which she said made them uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
In response to a question over when an Irish unity poll might happen, Mr Dornan said he believed it would happen in 2022, adding it should include other options such as an independent Ulster.<\/p>\n
He also warned against Sinn F\u00e9in leading the campaign for a united Ireland, saying instead the universities should be stepping in to broaden the debate, criticizing them as having been \u201cpainfully quiet\u201d on the subject so far.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile during a discussion on identity, Mr Honeyford commented that he felt there was an element of \u201cshame\u201d at being described as having an Ulster British identity, and said that needed to change.<\/p>\n