THE renewed Drumcree stand-off has revealed, arguably above all else, political unionism’s strategic ineptitude.

Its leadership – whether in the DUP, UUP or TUV – fail to understand that its electoral dominance is over, never to return, and that it urgently needs to appeal beyond its base.

What unionist politicians could do in the past no longer applies. Being led by extreme elements will only help hasten the end of the union.

With the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921 that guaranteed a permanent in-built unionist majority, politicians from the Ulster Unionist Party were able to rule arbitrarily for 50 years without any significant electoral consequences.

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With the collapse of Stormont and the imposition of direct rule in 1972, it took a long time for political unionism to grapple with the new reality.

Most unionists celebrated the collapse of the Sunningdale power-sharing arrangement following the Ulster Workers’ Council strike in May 1974, but it was a hollow victory.

It was nothing like the victories of old spearheaded by Carson and Craig. Future British governments became far more reluctant to back down in the face of unionist demands.

While unionism’s electoral dominance was maintained for some time, it was no longer in control as........

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