Statement by TUV Mourne councillor Harold McKee:
“Republicans love to make promises about the all Ireland state which is forever just around the corner. Having predicted the end of Northern Ireland in every decade since we came into existence a century ago, one shouldn’t be surprised that Ms McDonald should make such a prediction.
“Tellingly, if one lookes at the full context of what she said in Australia the picture she paints of life in an all-Ireland is hardly appealing. While Republicans build their political reason to be on the alleged failures of Northern Ireland, Ms McDonald devoted much time in her speech to talking about the issues which had caused people to leave the Republic to find a better life down under – the high cost of living, unemployment, housing costs which had spiralled out of control long before the cost of living crisis hit the rest of the globe, etc.
“Why would anyone living in this part of the UK want to give up a free NHS in order to pay €45-65 every time we need to see a GP? Why would we aspire to surrender our £12,500 personal tax free allowance so we can pay tax on all income? Why would we want to give up our £10 billion annual subvension from Westminster in order to become part of a Republic which, by Ms McDonald’s own admission, exports its youth to the other side of the world in order to find employment?
“All that said, her comments should give Unionists who are prepared to partner Sinn Fein in government pause for thought. Do we really want a party in government committed to the destruction of Northern Ireland?“