Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

An anti-Brexit billboard proposing a united Ireland as a solution to Brexit at the border. Brian Lawless/PA

Majority in North think Brexit has increased likelihood of united Ireland – survey

The poll also found that 48% support for Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK.

ALMOST TWO-THIRDS of people in Northern Ireland believe that Brexit has increased the likelihood of Irish unity, according to the results of a social attitudes survey.

The 2021 results of the NI Life & Times survey, a joint initiative between Queen’s University and Ulster University, also show 48% support for Northern Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom, a decline since 2016.

The survey also suggests that unionist and nationalist identities have become stronger, and the proportion of those who are neither unionist nor nationalist has decreased since 2018.

The results are contained in the report, Political Attitudes In NI After Brexit And Under The Protocol, co-authored by Professor Katy Hayward, Dr Milena Komarova and Ben Rosher of Queen’s University.

Key points of the survey include:

  • The Good Friday Agreement is seen as the best basis for governing Northern Ireland, with only 6% expressing absolute opposition to it.
  • There has been an increase in reporting of nationalist identities (from 19% in 2020 to 26% in 2021).
  • Nearly half of respondents (48%) believe that the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be to remain part of the UK (down from 54% in 2020).
  • One third (34%) state they would vote for a united Ireland tomorrow.
  • 63% of respondents believe that a united Ireland is more likely after Brexit (a rise of five percentage points on 2020).
  • The proportion who think the Northern Ireland Protocol is “on balance a good thing” has more than doubled to 33% (15% in 2020), while 33% think it a “mixed bag” and 21% think it “on balance a bad thing”.
  • Only 29% support an ending of Troubles-related investigations and prosecutions.
  • There is majority support for progress in full implementation of the 1998 Agreement with 62% wanting to see a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and 59% wanting to see the re-establishment of the Civic Forum.

The report covers the four main themes of the Good Friday Agreement, political identities, constitutional status, and Brexit and the protocol.

Prof Hayward said: “If the Northern Ireland Assembly election of 5 May was a defining moment, it only compounded the political flux that has troubled Northern Ireland since the Brexit referendum.

“The NI Life and Times Survey offers a unique insight into how the local population is responding to the realisation that things won’t and can’t be the same again.

“The differing expectations and concerns reflected in this data will no doubt prove testing for our democratic institutions as well as for our politicians in the months and years to come.”

The survey is taken from a randomised sample of 1,397 of the adult population in Northern Ireland.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 12 comments
Close
12 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kim
    Favourite Kim
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 8:22 AM

    RIP little one. How heartbreaking. The poor little mite. Thoughts go out to his poor parents & that they find the strength to cope some how.

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom O Laithimh
    Favourite Tom O Laithimh
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 8:16 AM

    Such a sad story, if the HSE had concerns in the past why did they not act sooner? Such a waste of a life and the HSE have a lot to answer for

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal
    Favourite Micheal
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 8:38 AM

    Without knowing the specifics of this case, it sounds like the boy may have died in his sleep, (IE: cardiac issues). Can we please hold the HSE bashing until after p/m results are released?
    RIP Little Man, RIP.

    187
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Resel
    Favourite Resel
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 9:45 AM

    Ya Tom. Serious assertions there based on what exactly?

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute McNamees On TheGreen
    Favourite McNamees On TheGreen
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 11:41 AM

    Blaming James o Reilly is pathetic. Using this tragedy as a little political football is disgusting. The family, regardless of circumstance deserve more.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fon Ellard
    Favourite Fon Ellard
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:27 AM

    Only going on hearsay but it looks like there may be mental health problems involved and if so then I’m not surprised that the HSE’s systems have failed, we’ve seen it happen time and again. Such a tragedy.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Goldie Locks
    Favourite Goldie Locks
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 11:25 AM

    Hearsay is a dangerous thing Fon. Imagine it were untrue? Heaping more pain on this family at a time of immense tragedy. Necessary???

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom O Laithimh
    Favourite Tom O Laithimh
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:04 AM

    Comments based on press release from the HSE stating they are familiar with the family as they have been monitoring them ….. Obviously not week enough I think

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal
    Favourite Micheal
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:23 AM

    It’s a standard procedure in the case of infant death outside of a hospital setting.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Lennon
    Favourite Mick Lennon
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:41 AM

    of course it’s ultimately his job,he takes the huge salary and benefits to run the health service,if theres failings collectively or individually within the hse it ultimately falls in his lap in my opinion,he’s as bad as Harney and she was dreadful

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lauren Halligan
    Favourite Lauren Halligan
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:25 AM

    Terrible thing to happen. Hope the family get the support they need. x

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom O Laithimh
    Favourite Tom O Laithimh
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:04 AM

    Comments based on press release from the HSE stating they are familiar with the family as they have been monitoring them ….. Obviously not week enough I think

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Meany
    Favourite Eoin Meany
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 12:21 PM

    I don’t know the specifics of this tragic incident and face it, neither does anyone else commenting on this page. Reading between the lines, yes mental health issues may well have been a factor. However, we don’t know what the HSE involvement with the family was before the death of the child and what other factors were at play.

    It may well be the case that there was a failure of HSE systems or it could be the case that the standard of care was high and it was an unpreventable tragic outcome.

    To suggest otherwise is unfair on all those concerned.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Margaret Doyle Hanley
    Favourite Margaret Doyle Hanley
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 12:02 PM

    I think all managers should be responsible for employees in their company, otherwise why have them? If they can’t do the job, there’s plenty out there that can.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Lennon
    Favourite Mick Lennon
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:27 AM

    tragic,the poor little lad,if the hse are found to be at fault then James Reilly has blood on his hands

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fon Ellard
    Favourite Fon Ellard
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 10:35 AM

    Really? Is James Reilly supposed to be personally monitoring EVERY employee in the HSE to see they do their jobs right? I’m no fan of his but you can’t seriously expect him to be held responsible for everything that goes on.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Basstard
    Favourite Barry Basstard
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 1:20 PM

    I read that he died of asphyxiation.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrea Rock Massey
    Favourite Andrea Rock Massey
    Report
    Sep 4th 2012, 1:02 PM

    Front page of some newspaper this morning said the police are treating the death as suspicious. It always makes it so much more horrendous and heartbreaking. God love his little soul x

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds