At what point does unionism face up to the fact that political and electoral nationalism, north and south of the border, is preparing for a border poll?

Sinn Féin and the SDLP are, to all intents and purposes, on exactly the same page in encouraging the Irish government to commit to the unity project.

Fine Gael has announced that it will have a unity blueprint ready for autumn.

And while Fianna Fáil may not be trumpeting the project, its longstanding Shared Island Initiative – an all-island venture – clearly has unity as its ultimate purpose.

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Now, before my unionist readers – and you’d be surprised how many unionists do read this column – start complaining, let me make it clear that I’m not saying that a border poll is just around the corner; because it’s not.

But I am saying that when all of nationalism and republicanism is, and so obviously, moving in tandem towards the same destination, then unionism should sit up and take note.

Fair enough, a poll cannot be called by the Irish government alone. The Good Friday Agreement, which is actually very woolly on the subject, references only the UK Secretary of State, saying that he or she would have to make the call about when a win for Irish unity might be........

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