As a recent tourist, NI seemed far less developed than the Republic of Ireland to me, as if everyone there had moved to England for jobs and now that region only survives thanks to life support from London.
Much of the infrastructure there reminded me more of post-communist Eastern European countries than western Europe, but then so do many parts of England (no offense).
I wonder if NI wouldn't be better off part of the Republic and the EU, now with Brexit and everything?
As someone who grew up and lives in NI, I'm suspicious that the awful state of the place is because the UK knows NI will rejoin Ireland in the nearish future, so why would they invest in infrastructure here?
It used to be the case that the roads would get noticeably worse as you crossed the border into the republic, now the situation is reversed.
>I'm suspicious that the awful state of the place is because the UK knows NI will rejoin Ireland in the nearish future, so why would they invest in infrastructure here?
NI receives a disproportionately large amount of money from the UK gov compared to other UK nations.
And that money still isn't enough, because NI is still suffering the effects of the troubles and a governance situation which is not fit for purpose. Everything here is in a state of disrepair, the NHS isn't functioning, the far-right Christian-fundamentalist party which is the second biggest party refuses to do anything for reasons that exist only in their own heads, etc. etc.
The place needs to be actively developed, not repeatedly patched up and sent on its way to hobble along.
I agree with you, I'm just pointing out that the lack of investment in infrastructure isn't a NI-specific issue; rather it's part of central gov policy for the whole of the UK. And has been for decades. Every part of the UK is crumbling through lack of investment.
NI is a little better-off than much of England in that regard, outside of Tory towns and villages. My home town never recovered after Thatcher.
Probably not, in the sense that it's a backwater anyway - but at least it's currently a backwater enjoying significant subsidies from the UK government, money they likely wouldn't get from Dublin.
Unification will happen when the advantage of receiving such money will be clearly be offset by the disadvantage of having a broken political system (NI regional government is boycotted by unionists, while the national government is boycotted by republicans). As money reduces further and further while annoyances get bigger and bigger (because of an entrenched "England-first" government pursuing policies like Brexit), that threshold gets closer and closer.
>enjoying significant subsidies from the UK government
Those subsidies don't seem to be enough to save it when the infrastructure is crumbling and everyone is moving abroad for jobs. Also, many countries don't need subsidies, they need opportunities. Subsidies are like paying a crackehead to buy more drugs instead of getting him a home, warm meal, a shower and schooling for job applications.
>money they likely wouldn't get from Dublin
They would get it from the EU then, and probably a lot more, as the UK gov is now struggling financially to stay solvent. The EU can very generous if you can play the game right. Just look at Poland 20 years ago and Poland today, the difference EU funds and the EU open market made, is night and day. It has also benefiter the Republic of Ireland. I doubt they would have been in the same state today without EU membership. For all its faults, the EU has been a force for good many times. Another English speaking region joining the EU could be a mutual benefit.
Much of the infrastructure there reminded me more of post-communist Eastern European countries than western Europe, but then so do many parts of England (no offense).
I wonder if NI wouldn't be better off part of the Republic and the EU, now with Brexit and everything?