The Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie MC has restated his view that there is no prospect of Irish unity and that Unionists must promote the benefits of the Union to those who do not share their vision and in the process demonstrate that Northern Ireland can deliver a peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.

Doug Beattie MC said:

“In spite of a great deal of talk in certain quarters about a border poll, the reality is that the Union of over 67 million people delivers for all the people of Northern Ireland and it is secure.

“The much-promoted message of fear, used by some within unionism as a political tool, is no longer credible and should be rejected. It is designed to keep people at heel, to stop them rising up and asking for better, from seeing the failure that has been delivered over the last 15 years and asking questions as to why.

“It is up to those who value and cherish the Union to promote the benefits of the Union to those who do not share our vision. We must reach out and demonstrate that we can build a society here in which everyone has a stake and sense of belonging, and which is capable of creating a prosperous future.

“The results of the recent ‘Tracker and Attitudes Survey’ by the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies, support what I have been saying regarding the importance of projecting confident, positive and inclusive unionism.

“30% of people would vote for a United Ireland tomorrow but 70 per cent would not. The figure for unity only rises to 33.4 per cent in 10-15 years’ time which is hardly a ringing endorsement.

“Only a quarter would vote for a united Ireland if it meant paying higher taxes or for healthcare.

“Very interestingly a quarter of Sinn Fein voters and nearly 30 per cent of SDLP voters agreed that they would not vote for a united Ireland if taxes were higher and healthcare had to be paid for.

“The future has not yet been written; it is what we make it. It really is time we stopped obsessing about what we fear might happen, begin to show the self- belief and confidence that we know exists in all communities and from there, build our future.”