@ Fly
1 I think Nationalists should try to sell a UI- it makes that 55%+ support and a smooth transition more likely. In the short term it's likely that a lot of Alliance voters will look to the Unionists- Fear of a Fenian Planet basically (even if they've spent £80 on a new passport)
2 I imagine the by election will have a low turnout (as usual) and SDLP will catch up a bit. Unionists are so far behind they might just go with 2 candidates
3 I know FF and FG are shy of fighting NI elections. That said one of SF's ex councillors in Omagh has now joined the Soldiers of Destiny, so why not give it a go?
4 SF aren't fronting with their core belief (ie that a UI is inevitable past, present and future and a few shootings or paralysis of local govt are just collateral damage). Instead , the leadership have convinced their activists, wider opinion at home and abroad and perhaps even themselves that they're a rainbow coalition of human rights liberation lobbies. Until brainless Barry let it slip, alas
5 Ideally I'd like a few things none of which look likely for now. Variously
- Stormont to return then
- actually pass some laws incl on Language, Marriage and Abortion
- some way to have voluntary coalition or flexible co-operation
- Brexit to be abandoned
- Brussels to give me a passport, in return I promise to drink Kriek, add mayo to chips and read Tintin in the original
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