Member

I want to deal with one point that the noble Lord, Lord Bew, raised. He said that Northern Ireland looks in two different directions and that we cannot continue—I did not know we were continuing, but anyway—as if it were one solid block or just orientated towards the United Kingdom. I understand that, but why is it that unionism’s voice is not important any more, or not as important as, for instance, nationalism? Let us suppose for a moment that what has been done to those of us who cherish our citizenship of the UK had been done in reverse. Not for a single, solitary second would the Government, past or present, have implemented it. They would have said “We have to take the views of all the people of Northern Ireland”. I refer again to what the noble Baroness, Lady Foster, said. “No consultation. The idea is, just ram it down their throats. They’ll get to like it and, if they don’t like it, tough—just swallow hard and you’ll get rid of your impediment”. That will happen once too often. Let us be very clear tonight that that will not suffice for a remedy that is so urgently needed.