A Federal Kingdom Fits the Bill

A Federal Kingdom Fits the Bill

Fair Deal writing about the D.U.P. 20TH Nov writes: -
“ It will seek to shape the union by campaigning for a new constitutional settlement based on our cherished values of equal citizenship- a Federal U.K. with a written constitution and a Bill of Rights.”

What Fair Deal has in mind in a Federal U.K. is the constitutional set up in the Federal United States of America. In the United States there is a powerful central government ruling over subservient states with residual governmental powers. But would that model satisfy the people here. In Fair Deal’s Federal U.K. a powerful central government at Westminster would rule over a subservient N. Ireland with only residual powers. In that model the flag in N. Ireland would be the Union Jack but would that flag be acceptable on the Falls and Bogside? Again the anthem would b e –God Save the Queen—but would that be sung in the Nationalist community? In Fair Deal’s Federal U.K. the people would still be divided along sectarian lines.

There is however another Federal model. That is where a treaty or compact is entered into between two equal states. This model would yield a Federal Kingdom for these islands. The canvass to be worked on in this context is an all Ireland canvass. In this there would be a dual constitution, an unwritten constitution for G.B. as of now with a new written constitution for the nation of Ireland expressed in The National Government of Ireland Act. The Act would give among much else a flag, an anthem, a passport and a statement of rights as acceptable to the Catholics of Kerry as to the Protestants of Derry in a non-sectarian Ireland. Fair Deal should think again.

Michael Gillespie Derry