My view – and it has been my view for a long, long time – is that partition is the primary cause of the conflict.

It is also the primary reason why genuine reconciliation has proved impossible, even among those who would describe themselves as moderate, liberal or, cutting to the chase, Alliance.

I do accept that there are people who do want to get on with everyone else and wish that our parties would similarly just get on and govern together for the good of everyone.

But deep down, even those with a heart for cooperation in government also have a heart for their own constitutional preference.

Brian Feeney: Partition is the problem and unity is the only solution

Alex Kane: History means there will always be a ‘UK dimension’ in Ireland

The majority, according to opinion polls – and the electoral evidence tells the same story – have already picked a side on the united Ireland versus United Kingdom debate.

And the remaining 20 per cent or so know that, to paraphrase Bucks Fizz, soon there will come a time for making your mind up.

What partition did was divide an island that had been a single entity within the United Kingdom. Indeed, it had previously been the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

But that form of reunification is not what........

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