Thread by @Niall001

Remainers - this is a warning to you about the dangerous nature of inflammatory rhetoric about the deal that Johnson may agree regarding NI & the backstop. 1/

As bad as Brexit might be, neither the backstop nor the supposed new customs/regulatory divergence arrangements "deal" involve Irish reunification or NI leaving the UK.

2/
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

China, Germany, Spain & Italy all have regions with either different customs arrangements or regions that are part of another country's CU (e.g. Germany & Italy have regions in the Swiss CU).

opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/enc…
3/

Just because something is relatively new to the UK does not make it something unusual for the world (e.g. a "hung parliament" or coalition government does not constitute a constitutional crisis).

4/

So if you Johnson comes back with a deal that involves (further) divergence or customs for NI from the UK (or rather vice-versa), do NOT claim this involves the break-up of the UK, the reunification of Ireland etc.

That is dangerous rhetoric.

5/

Many English people are unfamiliar with the history of loyalist paramilitary groups such as Ulster Resustance, the UVF, the LVF, UFF, Red Hand Commandos etc.

They killed over 700 people during the Troubles. 6/
alphahistory.com/northernirelan…

A selection of highlights follow:
The Dublin-Monaghan bombings: 34 dead; 300 injured. 7/

rte.ie/news/2014/0517…

The McGurk's Bar Bombing:

15 Dead; 17 Injured

8/

The Miami Showband Massacre:
5 dead.



9/

The Loughinisland Massacre:
Deaths 6; Injuries 5



10/

The point being that Loyalist paramilitaries are not a hypothetical. They exist. When you tell then that the backstop etc. means the breakup of the UK or a reunited Ireland, some/many become nervous or angry.

11/

The risks posed by nervous loyalist paramilitaries are not limited to nationalists or Catholics.

Loyalist groups have been involved in racist intimidation & attacks.

12/

theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/n…

So Remainers, remain sensible. Avoid hyperbole and sensationalism. There is only one route towards NI leaving the UK & joining the rest of Ireland - the route outlined in the GFA.

Saying otherwise risks inflaming tensions within Northern Ireland, so be responsible.

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