The rest of the world seemed to be hailing the new Brexit deal as a breakthrough but for the people of Sandy Row, a loyalist enclave in south Belfast, that was all the more reason to conclude: not so fast.
News of the accord between the UK government and European Union prompted a mix of pride, uncertainty and suspicion. Was it victory – or a trick?
The Democratic Unionist party’s collapse of power-sharing in Northern Ireland had called the bluff of London and Brussels and delivered significant changes to the protocol.
But nobody in this working-class area, which takes pride in union jacks and other symbols of British identity, was sure whether it would smoothen trade disruption and copper-fasten Northern Ireland’s place in the UK.
They were not inclined to take the word of Rishi Sunak, who was in Lisburn, 10 miles away, talking up Northern Ireland becoming the world’s most exciting economic zone, or the word of Joe Biden or any other world leaders who welcomed the deal.
“If it’s true what they’re saying on TV, I’m all for it,” said Cliff Moore, 58. “But I’ve not read it and I need to hear straight talking.” Moore did not trust Sunak and was waiting to hear the verdict of unionist leaders.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, had withheld judgment pending study of the text. Jim Allister, leader of Traditional Unionist Voice, a smaller, hardline rival of the DUP, had declared the deal a lot of spin that did not justify restoring the Stormont assembly and executive.
That seemed to sway Moore. “I’d like them to get back around the table [at Stormont] for everyone’s sake. But I’d take Jim’s word for it. He wouldn’t tell me lies.”
A 55-year-old woman who gave only her first name, Jean, agreed that Stormont should revive – the economy and health services needed urgent attention – but not at any price. “We should be ruled just by the UK, not the EU.”
David Milliken, 51, credited the DUP with wringing concessions from Brussels. “Without them bringing the house down the deal would not have happened. But so far all we’ve heard is a lot of hype and bluster. We had that before from Boris Johnson and he told everyone lies.”
The store owner, a marching band supplier, wondered if the deal would banish the post-Brexit rules that are tormenting his efforts to import material from Great Britain. Milliken also wanted to know to what extent the European court of justice’s writ would still run in Northern Ireland. Pending clarity, the DUP boycott of power-sharing, unionism’s only leverage, should continue, he said.
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Some people in Sandy Row had no opinion on the deal, saying they had not seen the news and had no interest in it. Two young men said they had not heard of any protocol: “Sorry mate but whatever it is I really don’t care.”
The Royal bar, however, hosted a lively debate between some customers. Stanley Duncan, 87, said unionists and loyalists should embrace the deal. “It’s the only one we’ll get. There is nothing else.” If the DUP rejected the compromise, Stormont, which has been mothballed since last year, may never revive, said Duncan.
A 66-year-old customer, who gave his name only as Stephen, said unionists should take time to study the text but he was leaning towards rejection. A reduced role for the European court of justice still left a role, and that meant an alien presence in this corner of the UK, he said. “We are British, not Irish, not semi-Irish.”
He cited another reason to not revive Stormont: the prospect of Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill becoming first minister. “Can you imagine that? Can’t happen.”
