page_title: Politics of Northern Ireland
section_title: Views on the Union
hierarchical_section_title: Politics of Northern Ireland / Political demography / Views on the Union
caption_attribution_description: English: Results of the constitutional preference question (NIRELAND, NIRELND2) of the NI Life and Times Survey between 1998 and 2017 - [1]. Excludes 'don't know' responses. 00 Remain part of the UK, unspecified – Shade of red used in the Flag of the United Kingdom 00 Remain part of the UK, direct rule – Colour based on the shade of red used in the Flag of the United Kingdom 00 Remain part of the UK, devolution – Colour based on the shade of red used in the Flag of the United Kingdom 00 Other 00 Independent state – Shade of blue used in the Northern Ireland Assembly logo 00 Reunify with the rest of Ireland – Shade of green used in the Flag of Ireland
context_page_description: Since 1998, Northern Ireland has devolved government within the United Kingdom. The government and Parliament of the United Kingdom are responsible for reserved and excepted matters. Reserved matters are a list of policy areas, which the Westminster Parliament may devolve to the Northern Ireland Assembly at some time in future. Excepted matters are never expected to be considered for devolution. On all other matters, the Northern Ireland Executive together with the 90-member Northern Ireland Assembly may legislate and govern for Northern Ireland. Additionally, devolution in Northern Ireland is dependent upon participation by members of the Northern Ireland Executive in the North/South Ministerial Council, which co-ordinates areas of co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
  Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are by single transferable vote with five representatives elected from 18 parliamentary constituencies. Eighteen representatives to the lower house of the British parliament are elected from the same constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. However, not all of these take their seats.
context_section_description: According to a 2018 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey carried out by Queens University Belfast and Ulster University, 62% supported remaining part of the United Kingdom via devolved government or direct rule, with support for leaving the UK and forming a united Ireland at 19%. In terms of religion, 39% of Northern Ireland Catholics supported remaining part of the United Kingdom via devolved government or direct rule, usually while also supporting nationalist political parties. The proportion of Catholics supporting a united Ireland was 39% according to the same poll. The proportion of Protestants in the study who wished to join the Republic was 5%, with 83% preferring to remain in the United Kingdom in some form. There are also considerable numbers of people who give ambiguous answers to questions about the future constitutional status of Northern Ireland. Some nationalists have historically sought a favourable arrangement for Ireland within the United Kingdom. Some Protestants (such as paramilitaries and their supporters) usually term themselves as loyalists as well as unionists. As a result, the term "loyalist" has become less popular among unionists in recent decades, especially with unionist politicians. 4% of Catholics and 1% of Protestants supported independence for Northern Ireland as part of the same survey. Support for this, while fluctuating, is regarded as insignificant.
  Elections in Northern Ireland are often characterised as mini-referendums on the constitutional question. Voters may also perceive voting to be about strengthening the hand of their section of the community within Northern Ireland, or about gaining advantage for their social class.
  In 2016 an Ipsos Mori poll asked "If there was a referendum on the border tomorrow would you:" and the answers for different regions of Northern Ireland were as follows,
  The same poll recorded answers from people in different age groups as follows,
  Answers from people of different religious backgrounds were as follows,
caption: Shows the proportion of responses to the question "Do you think the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be for it," in each year of the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey.[20] This is an annual survey conducted by Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.
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