"The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity"
About this Quote
The intent is twofold. First, he’s forcing British officials (and unionists) to admit that their commitment is not to democracy in the abstract, but to a particular outcome. Second, he’s planting a marker for nationalists: your aspiration is not automatically illegitimate; it simply awaits the same standard of proof. That’s a radical move in the Northern Ireland context, where history made majorities feel like permanent entitlement and minorities feel like permanent captivity.
Subtext: constitutional arrangements must contain an exit clause that’s actually usable, or they’re not consent-based, they’re coercive with better branding. Hume is also quietly arguing against violence by making politics the arena for change: if unity can only come through a majority, then the route is persuasion, coalition, demographics, and time - not guns.
Context matters: the Troubles were fueled by the mismatch between “majority rule” and equal citizenship. Hume’s line anticipates the Good Friday Agreement’s core bargain: Northern Ireland’s status can change, but only by consent, and that consent must be taken seriously no matter which way it breaks. The quote works because it turns a slogan into a contract, and asks who’s willing to sign.
Quote Details
| Topic | Freedom |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Hume, John. (2026, January 16). The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-basic-policy-of-the-british-government-was-90574/
Chicago Style
Hume, John. "The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-basic-policy-of-the-british-government-was-90574/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The basic policy of the British Government was that since the majority of people in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the United Kingdom, that was that. We asked what would happen if the majority wanted something else, if the majority wanted to see Irish unity." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-basic-policy-of-the-british-government-was-90574/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
