British disinterest in Northern Ireland is often explicit.

British disinterest in Northern Ireland is often explicit.

For example, the Conservative secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew stated in a speech in Coleraine in December 1992 that although the British government would respect the wishes of the majority the aspiration to a united Ireland was 'no less legitimate' than that of Unionists to be part of Britain.

Later on he said that Britain had no economic or strategic interest in Northern Ireland, repeating this a few months later in an interview with "Die Zeit" when he actually declared that Britain would leave the province 'with pleasure' - although he later took back the 'pleasure'.