“An epitaph on the tomb of what was once a unionist state”

• "once unionist state"

  Northern Ireland prior to significant political changes, particularly the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, where unionist parties held significant political power and influence, and the state was largely governed by and for the benefit of the unionist community
• Good Friday Agreement signed

  1998
• Good Friday Agreement

  • Introduced power-sharing mechanisms that required nationalist and unionist parties to cooperate in governing Northern Ireland, thus challenging the dominance of unionism
• Factors preventing the Good Friday Agreement from being fully effective

  • Ongoing sectarian divisions and tensions
  • Disputes over the implementation of certain provisions of the agreement
  • Challenges related to decommissioning paramilitary groups and achieving full reconciliation between communities
• Northern Ireland Protocol, a part of the Brexit deal

  Created customs and regulatory checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, exacerbating tensions and raising concerns about the stability of the region
• Emma Little Pengelly is particularly under pressure due to her association with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has faced criticism for its handling of Brexit negotiations and its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol
• As a DUP politician, Little Pengelly may face scrutiny and accountability from both within her party and from the broader public for the party's stance on these issues