Sunday, November 20, 2011

Catholics may vote Unionist over economy: FM

The Stormont Executive's First Minister has said Northern Ireland's future in the United Kingdom could depend on Catholics, wary of Ireland's economic woes, voting across the traditional divide.

In an interview with The Times newspaper in the UK, DUP leader Peter Robinson also acknowledged that he might be Northern Ireland's last Protestant first minister.

A 2001 census recorded the Northern Irish population as 53.1% Protestant and 43.8% Catholic, with the 2011 census expected to show a narrowing of the gap.

The Times cited a recent national audit showing that when asked to state their religion, 54% of boys and 55% of girls described themselves as Catholic.

Figures out last month found that 49% of Northern Irish students at the province's universities were Catholics, while 35% were Protestants.

Asked whether he could be Northern Ireland's last unionist first minister, Mr Robinson said: "Yes, but the assumption behind your question is that the Catholic population will not vote for unionist parties."

He said that following Ireland's economic downturn, a majority of nationalists wanted to maintain links with the UK.

"What is happening in the Irish Republic is not appetising (for nationalists). I think the more stable our structure, the more peaceful Northern Ireland is, the more it works as part of the UK, then the more people will think, 'Why on earth would we change?'"