I've been away for a while because I've just been too busy. But here's a new TL which hopefully hasn't been done before.
In November 1965, Northern Ireland went to the polls. A promising challenge from the Northern Ireland Labour Party was crushed by the PM, Terence O'Neill, scaremongering enough that a vote against the Ulster Unionists would propel Nationalists into power.
But what if Ian Paisley had decided to stand? After all, he did IOTL not long after. In this TL, he and his acolytes stand and don't do brilliantly; but they split the vote and cause all manner of trouble.
At a rally at Ballymena on 28th October 1965, Ian Paisley addressed a crowd.
"We reject Captain O'Neill and his appeasement of the South. We reject all those who brought Lemass to Ulster, a shameful day. And we reject those who would betray Protestantism!
Ulster Protestant Action today registered with Her Majesty's Electoral Commission. We shall fight across Ulster for the sake of our people and our faith!"
Such demagoguery sounded good to those who liked it- but little did anyone realise the consequences.
In November 1965, Northern Ireland went to the polls. A promising challenge from the Northern Ireland Labour Party was crushed by the PM, Terence O'Neill, scaremongering enough that a vote against the Ulster Unionists would propel Nationalists into power.
But what if Ian Paisley had decided to stand? After all, he did IOTL not long after. In this TL, he and his acolytes stand and don't do brilliantly; but they split the vote and cause all manner of trouble.
At a rally at Ballymena on 28th October 1965, Ian Paisley addressed a crowd.
"We reject Captain O'Neill and his appeasement of the South. We reject all those who brought Lemass to Ulster, a shameful day. And we reject those who would betray Protestantism!
Ulster Protestant Action today registered with Her Majesty's Electoral Commission. We shall fight across Ulster for the sake of our people and our faith!"
Such demagoguery sounded good to those who liked it- but little did anyone realise the consequences.