Survey shows significant section of Irish people oppose British rule

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Thursday October 07, 2010 19:12 by Saoirse - Republican Sinn Féin saoirse at iol dot ie Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill,223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 01 8729747

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

The study carried out by Jonathan Tonge - Professor of Politics Studies and Head of the Department of Politics Studies at the University of Liverpool – confirms the fact that there remain a significant section of the Irish people who oppose British rule in Ireland.

The survey’s findings that 14% of nationalists express sympathy for the reasons for continued resistance to British occupation reflects the historical levels of consistent support for the struggle against British rule in Ireland. The two state referenda on the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the 1937 Constitution and the Stormont Agreement in the 26 and six counties respectively in 1998 reflected a largely similar figure of opposition to partition and British rule.

Prof Tonge said the survey was designed to test the claim that 99.9% opposed continued opposition to British rule. He said it is now untrue to say that Irish Republicans who oppose continued British rule have no support.

Overall the survey does nothing more than bear out the lesson of Irish history. Despite the active opposition and condemnation of resistance to British rule from the political establishments in Leinster House, Stormont, Westminster, Washington and Brussels as well as most of the media there remains a section of the Irish people who refuse to be either purchased or intimidated into accepting the partition or British occupation of their country.

Críoch/Ends.