Member

The point is that unionists again agreed in debates in this House—more accurately, in debates in the other place—that this was a price worth paying. That is the question that unionists have to face up to now. This is a compromise reached between the United Kingdom and Europe. The balance of forces in the Houses of Parliament is perfectly clear. However interesting the Allister Bill is, there is no possibility of it gaining even the slightest traction in the other place. The question is very simple: is it the case, as was the case with traditional unionism, that this deal, which is clearly an improvement, a price worth paying for the continuation of the union? There is no other case—we know what unionists decided in the 19th century and 20th century. The question is: what will they decide in the 21st century?