Here's the results:


![Untitled.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmT6awGqxLjCxqFXGA7YGxy2UH4GQmAMKkMPo3yhQURCsK/Untitled.jpg)

[source](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/12/03/poll-shows-northern-ireland-rejects-unity-by-large-margin/)

As you can see, the people in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) are quite keen for unification, but Northern Ireland (NI) isn't. In particular significant minorities of NI catholics and the NI non-religious want to remain in the UK. 

This is "despite Brexit".

So what's going on?

In my opinion the UK is held together by the holy trinity of the NHS, the pound sterling and the monarchy.

Everyone across the kingdom has great affection for the NHS. No English Tory would vote to give it up, so why on earth would the people of Northern Ireland give it up in favour of the Republic's world of private healthcare and fees of €50 per GP visit and €750 per hospital stay? 

(The same applies to Scotland: NHS Scotland got slapped down for discussing fees despite getting more funding per capita from the British state than the other three nations. In an independent Scotland, without the funding from England, the service would almost certainly be privatised).

Then there is the pound. During the eurozone crisis, the people in the North watched aghast as the IMF imposed harsh medicine on the Republic. Even now, with inflation rising, goods are cheaper in the North which benefits from UK retailers economies of scale. It's now become a tradition in the south to drive to the north in December and buy as much food and drink and presents as you can stuff in your car in preparation for Christmas.

The pound was also a feature of the 2014 Scottish referendum. "What will happen to the money?" people kept asking. The SNP didn't have an answer, so No won by 55% to 45%.

Finally the monarchy. King Charles got a warm reception in Northern Ireland when he visited after he was proclaimed king, which surprised republicans. People value a neutral head of state. The royal family are known entities - we've been watching them since they were born. We know their character flaws as well as graces; there are no surprises as there are in republics. Unionists in Northern Ireland in particular are staunch monarchists.

In the Scottish referendum too, the SNP felt obliged to say that "of course" they'd ask the Queen to be the head of an independent Scotland. But voters had their doubts.