A significant moment in UK history?

An Aontú press conference

 5th May 2022, the day that Sinn Féin became the biggest political party in Northern Ireland, may go down in history as significant.  The unionist vote was still the biggest, but a number of indicators point to significant change ahead.

1) In 2019 a splinter party from Sinn Féin was formed called Aontú (which ironically means 'unity'). Aontú  is a conservative Irish national party based in the Republic.  Party splits can be read as a sign of strength, as the party now has the power to be able to split and survive.

2) The Alliance Party became the third party of NI.  Again this shows the acceptance that an accommodation is necessary as NI moves forward.  The separation of Britain from the EU has had the biggest impact on Ireland as an Island.  One of the reasons the UK was able to leave the EU is because it is largely an Island.  But the 310 miles of border between the UK and the EU is not insignificant.  'Thinking' people of Ireland are preparing for a safe and caring transition.

3) The SNP won the most council seats in Scotland.  Time and again the polls show that there is a persisting appetite for independence, and with the other shifting sands in UK politics, this is not likely to change.  Some voted, as many French votes said, between 'cholera and the plague', but the SNP does stand primarily for independence above all things, and there are alternatives.

4) No one wants to upset the queen, but when she dies there will be a period of instability where change will be a greater possibility.  The Scots do not like the Torys, and it looks like England is stuck with one party rule for some time.  Ironically the days when we had a Scottish PM, and a majority Scottish cabinet, as we did in the Blair Brown era, feel long ago.

If Thursday's votes were translated into  national votes, no one party would hold a majority.  Labour would have been able to form a minority government with the other parties (including the SNP).  The SNP would then get it's independence referendum, and the coalition government would fall.