In the atrium of The Palace of Westminster just outside the entrance to The House of Commons chamber, there stands an impressive monument to the unity of our islands. At each corner hangs a large painting of the patron saints of the four nations which make up The British Isles. Along with St. David of Wales, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. George of England, St. Patrick of Ireland casts his imposing gaze on David Lloyd George, Clement Attlee, and Winston Churchill.

In a debate at Trinity College Dublin the former leader of the opposition John Bruton envisaged the development on the British Isles of what he called a "multipolar variable geometry federalism." The phrase may be cumbersome, and he would no doubt not agree with all that we say here, but his point is exactly ours. Above all he points to the way in which the divisions opened up between our peoples in 1919-1923 can be bridged by a new generation of leaders free from the animosities of the past.

The Irish Unionist Alliance believes that the long term interests of the Irish people will be best served within a new federal relationship with the United Kingdom. The precise architecture of this new arrangement cannot yet be determined. But in time we hope to see all the Irish people once more represented at Westminster, but in a way that decisions which are exclusively Irish are taken in Ireland. We do not believe that Unionism should be confused with centralisation.

Irishmen have been sidelined from the centre of political life in the British Isles for too long. Irishmen and women must regain centre-place in that shared political life. We believe all Irishmen should examine with interest the evolving nature of Scottish and Welsh devolution as models through which both unionist and separatist aspirations can be reconciled. We do not believe that the so called "West Lothian" question should used to prevent the development of political institutions which reflect the realities of our islands.

Ours is therefore a practical unionism grounded in the reality that the British Isles is a cultural, economic and social union bound together by close ties of language and friendship. We plan to build on these already existing social and cultural links between our islands. We look forward to establishing relations with those whose experience and concerns are similar to ours in Scotland, Wales, and other parts of the world, and working with others in Southern Ireland who share our post-separatist agenda.

This quote was taken from the Irish Unionist Alliance website.

The Act of Union (1801) put a political stamp on the economic, cultural and ancestral links that had existed between the peoples of the British Isles since the earliest recorded history. Today those links remain the rationale for the union. Despite breaking from the Union, the Irish Republic remains a component part of the British Isles economy. Northern Ireland (N.I.) chose to remain within the Union and her people have continued to do so. Ulster (Northern Ireland) has always been distinct from the rest of the island of Ireland. It is a hybrid of Scots and Irish culture and was marked as a place apart in the ancient Celtic legends. Scots culture became the predominant influence with the last great wave of migration which occurred before most European settlers arrived in North America. Ulster's relationship is not defined by legislation alone nor are the ties with Great Britain (GB) merely historical.

Ulsters Solemn League and Covenant

Being convinced in our consciences, that Home Rule , would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster, as well as the whole of Ireland , subversive to our civil and religious freedom , destructive of our citizenship and perilous to the unity of the Empire , we , whose names are underwritten , men of Ulster , loyal subjects of His Gracious Majesty King George V. , humbly relying on the God , whom our fathers, in days of stress and trial confidently trusted , do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn Covenant , throughout this our time of threatened calamity , to stand by one another in defending our cherished position of equal citizenship in the United Kingdom and in using all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland. And in the event of such a Parliament being forced upon us we further solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves to refuse to recognise its authority. In sure confidence that God will defend the right , we hereto subscribe our names. And further , we individually declare that we have not already signed this Covenant.

The above was signed by me at---------------------------------------

"Ulster Day," Saturday , 28th September 1912

GOD SAVE THE KING