His revisions to the Silmarillion in the late 60s just got weird. Christopher must have accidentally bought him the wrong sort of weed for his pipe.

Can't wait to watch as FF are at the helm of a second economic collapse in less than 20 years but people still keep voting for them.

Well if Fintan O'Toole's theory about Brexit being the first sign of an inchoate English nationalism, then a Reform Party signing off on a border poll would make sense as a logical final step towards the break up of the UK and the re-establishment of a reactionary independent England

In which case a Reform Party government might accept a Border Poll as a way to offload the North?

That sounds awfully similar to the talk about Brexit and the customs border, and they found a way around it in the small print. But you're right that it might presage a border poll. If even Ivana Bacik and Leo Varadkar are now advocating for it, then you know the mainstream has shifted.

I don't know if the arithmetic works the way they think it will. I can't see any of the main parties in Britain bending over backwards to have NI included in any withdrawal from the ECHR. They're more likely to use it as a bargaining chip to ensure the continuation of trade and good relations.

That's been the case since 1610!

The Unionists must realise that there is no sizeable party in Britain now that needs them or cares what they say or do? The dye is cast on the future of NI and has been since the various deals were done with the EU. NI trade and legislation will slowly move further and further away from the UK.

But that is just my opinion! You disagree because you presumably have had a different experience with Irish healthcare than I and my entire family has had, which is the nature of the beast. If you can afford it I'm sure private healthcare is great in Ireland. So let's leave it there.