Letter: Hardly a colony

Michael Watts
Saturday 07 August 1999 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

MAY I remind Beatrix Campbell that Ireland became part of the United Kingdom under the terms of the Act of Union of 1801; Northern Ireland is thus not a colony ("The lady's not for shuffling", 1 August). The office of Secretary of State was created when the Northern Ireland Parliament was suspended, to head the local government in the Province - not to end the rule of a corrupt planter oligarchy and return the government of the country to the natives.

Finally, Ms Campbell makes a direct comparison between the Ulster Unionists and the Boers: this is unfair. The white South Africans are a tiny minority in an overwhelmingly black population, who imposed by force a brutal regime based on racial discrimination; the Northern Ireland unionists have been the largest political grouping in the Province in democratic election after election in which nationalists have been free to stand and free to vote.

MICHAEL WATTS

Newtownards, Co Down

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in