General Election 8th June

[pilninggas]

 

The government of John Major told the IRA via the back channels that no formal, open dialogue was possible until a ceasefire.

Informal talks in other words.  They had accepted that their policy over the last decade had failed. 

I'd hardly call an absolute expectationg of a ceasefire prior to talks 'splitting hairs'. While PIRA were active the UK government of the time would not even consider talks - remember at the time, SF/IRA wanted the initial discussions that spanned 18months or so kept secret. The government stuck with it. Even when things went wrong for a time.

I suspect the likes of Corbyn would have happily 'given' NI to the Republic without one second of thought to the unionist and protestant community and their human rights or wishes.