AHC: Left-Wing Unionism and Right-Wing Nationalism in Northern Ireland

In Northern Irish politics unionist positions are associated with the right, sometime even the extreme right, whilst nationalist parties Sinn Fein and the SDLP are left-wing. There are exceptions like the Social Democratic Unionist Party, but they tend to be pretty fringe. How can we switch that around, or, if that isn't possible, at least have the nationalist/unionist divide cut across the political spectrum.

Off the top of my head I understand that Labour had quite a bit of support amongst dockworkers in Belfast who tended to be Protestant unionists, and their decision to not stand candidates in Northern Ireland in order to avoid splitting the vote with the SDLP ended up alienating a lot of them. It may not be much but, if Labour decided to keep standing candidates, it could be a potential starting point for a left-wing unionist voice.
 
The left/right divide doesn't match up to nationalist/loyalist at all well. Both the DUP and SF are socially conservative, though SF has moved on this no a degree, while favouring state intervention.
 
Holy crap, i was literally thinking of posting this yesterday evening good call, Alexander! :)

That said I have no idea how to answer it
 
I know very little about the politics of the area, but for my two cents, having someone like Eoin O'Duffy take control of Ireland would probably make the Republican movement shift rightward. After all, they're trying to merge Northern Ireland with a fascist state. I don't think a Blueshirts coup is very likely though.
 
I know very little about the politics of the area, but for my two cents, having someone like Eoin O'Duffy take control of Ireland would probably make the Republican movement shift rightward. After all, they're trying to merge Northern Ireland with a fascist state. I don't think a Blueshirts coup is very likely though.
I don't think we need to go quite that far. It's not as if the Irish Republic IOTL is a paragon of leftist politics given the political influence of the Catholic Church and the fact that its two main parties are both centre-right. I wonder if it would be possible for a different nationalist party than Sinn Fein to maintain a strong presence in the north, like Fine Gale or Fianna Fáil?
 
Top