alternatehistory.com

GRRR I just wrote out a whole essay, went to submit, had to re-login, and lost it all! :mad: :mad:

Aaaanyway (deep breath, mental note to self to copy and paste everything this time!) :D

28 May 1974

We, the Ulster Workers Council, regret to announce that the talks over the Sunningdale Agreement have broken down. Power-sharing is unacceptable, and the British Government have proved themselves untrustworthy, and we are left with no alternative but to declare a state of emergency and break all ties with the Union until the matter is fully resolved. The new state, to be provisionally named the People's Commonwealth of Ulster (suggestions including the People's Republic of Ulster, and the Workers State of Ulster were vetoed by the Council) rejects all current claims of sovereignty, and is armed and prepared to defend itself from attack. The border will be enforced and all intrusions will be considered hostile. The security forces have been sacked and the Army Council have been granted special license to administer law and order. The transitional Government will be headed by the Ulster Workers Council, with the full support of the Ulster Army Council. We hope that this matter will be resolved quickly and painlessly, however we are also prepared to defend our people with any and all means at our disposal. We hereby sign the Ulster Covenant as our founding constitution, and rais eour flag over Stormont and Belfast city Hall..



This much is canon. However many questions remain open, it is highly likely rioting will ensue throughout Northern Ireland, some nationalist areas will no doubt hold out against the pogroms but its also possible they will take advantage of safe passage offers from the loyalists to fight from the border, essentially a continuation of the previous unsuccesful IRA border campaign. Some Unionist elements (for example Enoch Powell) are very likely to oppose the new statelet vehemently, there may even be some element of Unionists in favour of power-sharing colluding with nationalist groups, politically at least. With that in mind I made this possible flag of the opposition..



..but thats probably taking it too far! :D Other questions, such as the embarrasment caused to the British by the failure of the talks, mean they either have to negotiate with the junta (thereby giving it de facto recognition) or send in the army. Although much of the military is sympathetic to the loyalists, this itself still causes ripples of unrest on the mainland. Despite the outwardly leftist appearance of the movement, global communist reactions are mixed. Some mainland Trade Unions strike in solidarity, some members of the communist party express their support but reiterate the need for an anti-sectarian unilateral socialist movement in NI. However the Labour Party remain silent on the issue. The new statelet expresses its support of Vietnam, although critics suggest this has more to do with prejudice against catholics than any shared leftist ideology. Israel almost immediately recognises the new state, although they greatly risked alienating their US supporters.

*PS I know this is still a controversial topic, I don't intend to cause offense to anyone.
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