In an interview with The View, DUP founder Wallace Thompson doubled down on his comments from last year. From the interview:
A founding member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has told BBC News NI that fellow unionists agree with his belief a united Ireland is “inevitable”.
Wallace Thompson, a former DUP special adviser, told The View that members of unionist parties and the loyal orders have approached him privately to support his position.
Mr Thompson also conceded that his previous position of “no surrender, Ulster says no” got unionism nowhere.
He is due to speak on a panel at the Ireland’s Future event in Belfast in June.
DUP co-founder welcomes united Ireland discussion
When he first suggested that the direction of travel was towards the reunification of Ireland, Mr Thompson received messages of support because “people realise that this is accepting reality.”
“The Union is damaged by Brexit. I can’t see it being repaired.
“We’re in danger of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic,” he said.
He told the programme he wishes more people would speak out on the idea, but noted that others have “very strongly” opposed him.
“I was encouraged by that within the evangelical Protestant community the number of people who said [they agreed with me],” he said.
“Even within the loyal orders – one and twos and threes have come to me individually.
“People have said things that I’ve heard second-hand, third-hand, but it’s there.
“I’m not quite sure of the scale of it,” he added.
“It could be said we’re a small minority but at the same time I think there are enough people who think like me to make it worthwhile to have the debate.”
“I was standing saying no surrender…but it has got us absolutely nowhere, it has put us into reverse.”@MarkCarruthers7 asks @wallyt53 if unionist leaders need to learn the lessons of history?
⏰11pm | BBC One NI#BBCTheView pic.twitter.com/jt4UVUJ0bV
— BBC The View (@bbctheview) May 9, 2024
Either you see his comments as stating the obvious or treachery of the highest order, either way, such remarks from a DUP founder are quite remarkable.
You can watch the full episode on the iPlayer.
I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism, I am not a member of any political party. Oddly for a member of the Slugger team, I am not that interested in daily politics, preferring to write about big ideas in society. When not stuck in front of a screen, I am a parkrun Run Director.
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