Letter: Ulster's last chance

Sir: Peter Heaney (letter, 26 June) is right that any solution to the problems of Northern Ireland requires Westminster politicians to force the province's people to examine their options realistically. There is no incentive for them to do that, however, as long as they can count on the British taxpayer to pick up the tab for whatever destruction the Irish cause.

If the Northern Irish fail to meet the 30 June deadline, they must be told in no uncertain terms that the British have had enough, and that we will immediately cease subsidising their sectarian squabbling. Northern Ireland should be left to solve its own self-created problems. And Britain should make clear that we will veto any attempt by them to continue being subsidised through the EU.

ERIC THOMPSON

London NW2