Deirdre Heenan, professor of social policy at Ulster University and political commentator, told The Pat Kenny Show that this year didn’t feel like unionism was to be celebrated.
Traditionally, July 12th is a day of celebration for the loyalist community, but this year it doesn't feel like anything should be celebrated.
Following a tumultuous couple of years culminating in last month's conviction of former DUP leader Geoffrey Donaldson for the gravest of sex offences, many unionists may feel they have little reason this year to bang the drum.
Deirdre Heenan, professor of social policy at Ulster University and political commentator, told The Pat Kenny Show that this year didn’t feel like unionism was to be celebrated.
“It doesn't feel for political unionism or indeed unionism that there's much to celebrate”, she said.
“Political unionism is facing this existential crisis”, she told Newstalk.
“These Christians, fundamental Christians, who felt it was their job to tell people what their moral standard should be, how they should live their lives.”
She told Newstalk that voters were feeling consistently and increasingly alienated and disillusioned.
Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at Newry Crown Court.“[They] really feel that we are in a process of drift”, she told Newstalk.
“A recent poll suggested that only one in four people supported Stormont and felt that it was actually making a material difference to people's lives here.
“So then you have to ask the question, well, if it isn't, what is the point of it? Why are we going through this charade?”
Mrs Heenan said there was a three-way split between the TUV, the DUP and the UUP.
She anticipates the vote will be fractured and that will cause serious difficulties for unionism. The DUP is expected to lose support.
The Parliament Buildings at Stormont Estate, © PA Archive/PA Images“So the difficulty for unionism is the three parties are all in the same camp, all fighting for the same ground. Liberal unionism is dead.
“That does not bode well for the future of unionism when the three parties are actually trying to outwrite each other.
“I don't think it is good news [for Sinn Fein] because the model of government we have in Northern Ireland is a consociational model, power sharing model.
“So we need to have, as it were, two large titular heads of government sharing power, agreeing a vision, agreeing a programme for government.”
She explained that if one side becomes very fractured, disillusioned, that disillusionment spreads and actually then the system of government begins to look like it is not fit for purpose.
Main Image: Stormont, © PA Archive/PA Images.
