Lord Kilclooney says Nationalists “are not equal” to Unionists
Posted By: August 31, 2017
“Well, there it is — straight from the horse’s mouth (John Taylor, aka Lord Kilclooney)!
See article below from the Irish News by John Manley.
Respected Belfast columnist Brian Feeney continuously reminds us that extreme Unionists/Loyalists/Protestants have never accepted Catholics as equals. That has been an absolute constant in both British and Irish history ever since the English Reformation. However, at some time in the past forty years, even in Northern Ireland non-Catholic bigots were forced —out of political correctness if nothing else— to refrain from admitting they were anti-Catholic. Now, code words are used when necessary, like nationalists, republicans, minority, etc. A bit like how some Americans not so long ago were quite prepared to admit they were anti-Black and to use the hateful and venomous N-word. Now those folk will instead refer to the “ minority”, “inner city crime,” “welfare cheats,” and “taking back our country,”(also a favorite of extreme Unionists and right-wing Brexiteers).
Nixon’s 1968 “ Southern Strategy” (making coded racist appeals to win white votes) was the same as today’s “Northern Strategy” of anti-Catholic bigots in Northern Ireland…. Any American who is unaware of this is simply not able to decipher the racist/sectarian code language of Northern Ireland. But Catholics in or from Northern Ireland can spot it a mile off—something my Fermanagh- background well prepared me for.
A former senior Ulster Unionist who helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement has claimed northern nationalists are not equal to unionists.
John Taylor, now a crossbench peer Lord Kilclooney, told The Irish News that a unionist majority meant nationalists could not claim equality – though they were entitled to equality of opportunity.
On a day when five Stormont parties voiced their support for an Irish language act, he defended his controversial remarks – originally made on Twitter – and said Sinn Féin was “dictating terms” with calls for stand-alone language legislation.
The former UUP deputy leader, MP, MEP, and Stormont minister has previously called for Scotland to be repartitioned in the event of a vote for independence.
His comments on equality are likely to fuel debate about a perceived lack of respect from unionists for Irish nationalist culture.
Speaking from his home in Armagh, Lord Kilclooney said he found Twitter’s 140-character limit “restrictive,” which meant tweets were “sometimes misconstrued.”
However, he said he was standing by his assertion that nationalists and unionists “are not equals.”
“What I’m saying is that all people, nationalists, in particular, must have equal opportunity with everyone else,” he said.
“But when it comes to equality, which is the word used by Sinn Féin, they are a political minority in Northern Ireland.”
Asked whether it was merely an issue of meaning or one that had real political implications, Lord Kilclooney responded: “I get worried when Gerry Adams talks about equality – and I make the distinction between equality of opportunity and equality of political support.
“The distinction is to ensure that each individual in Northern Ireland is equal in life’s opportunities, whereas politically it means nationalism is a minority political force.”
He claimed Unionism had increased its majority in June’s general election because “Michelle O’Neill went to Loughgall and praised the IRA murder gangs.”
“That really roused the Unionists and they came in greater force and they voted DUP,” he said.
The former minister in the old Unionist but they had to “recognize they are a minority and can’t dictate terms”.
Lord Kilclooney also said it was “increasingly evident in my opinion” that support for The Union among the Catholic population was growing.
