Chapter 8 of John Doyle’s Before the Vote: Planning for a united Ireland argues that economic convergence between North and South is “the most likely result of Irish unity”, and that Northern Ireland would be paying its way within a …

From faraway London, I struggle to explain to myself  why unionism can’t create a strategy for survival. The  doom theory of inevitable eclipse naturally favoured by nationalists committed  to unity is for the birds. Unionists are undermining their own position. …

When the history of the reunification of our island comes to be written, the past few days will surely not pass without comment. What I would argue is the most trusted polling organisation in the north, Lucid Talking, continues to …

Belfast Glenariff is one of our regulars in the comment zone Today, the 10th November 2026 marks the 40th Anniversary of the formation of Ulster Resistance. Very little is still known about this secretive Unionist/Loyalist quasi political/paramilitary group but what …

Rugby is still a game where the team that needs or wants it most can often overcome a team with greater experience or talents. But it’s also hard to sustain such intensity week in week out. With four tough matches …

If a Border Poll were held now, the pro-union lead has slipped again, according to the latest LucidTalk poll in today’s Belfast Telegraph. The normal caveats apply about margin of error, which for this poll is 2.3%. For this reason, …

Fine Gael published their Unified Ireland Blueprint at their Ard Fheis in Cork yesterday. https://www.finegael.ie/app/uploads/2026/11/Fine-Gael-Blueprint-Unified-Ireland.pdf ​I’ve been curious to see where it will land on bread-and-butter issues, as I think this is what will most influence northern middle-ground voters who’ll …

The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like. Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break. So discuss what you like here, but no politics. Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Back in the summer Sinn Féin’s poll rating showed they had lost a quarter of the votes won in the last Assembly election, and almost a third down on their all-time-high in the 2023 Council elections. Today’s new LucidTalk poll …