United Ireland would be “wonderful” but “cannot be enforced”, say U2

Bono told Channel 4 News that a United Ireland would be “wonderful” as “this pond is too small for a feud among frogs.”

“In any marital arrangement, you’d like to think both parties would be attracted to each other – indeed falling in love would be great.”

“I think in the south, we have done an amazing job at transforming our society – it feels freer, it feels fair – it’s not fair enough, we’ve got an issue with housing, there are problems in Ireland – but I think we look more and more attractive to our northern partner,” he said.

Discussing the concept of powersharing, The Edge said “I hate the argument has shifted to power and sovereignty. John Hume had it right – it should be switched to community, reconciliation, finding common ground. United Ireland has to be united – it has to be actually united, not just imposed.”

Bono mused that “the word freedom is up on trial.”

He said “all of our life, all of our adult life, the world was getting more free – since we were born basically and for the first time, it’s going in reverse.

“We always thought sexual politics were improving, gender politics, race relations, everything like that. So we’re definitely at some kind of existential crisis there too – not just in the climate – but in the politics.”

The Edge said “democracy is having an existential crisis – it is very hard to imagine an argument against authoritarianism both at home and abroad when a substantial group of people – particularly in America – are actually second guessing the principles of inclusion and freedom.”

“So a lot of people who agree with authoritarianism are pointing and saying: that system doesn’t work – they don’t even believe in it themselves.”

Bono said that they would not discuss another Donald Trump presidency as he gets “enough headlines”.

“America is the best idea – it just hasn’t happened yet. It’s the best song the world has never heard. It doesn’t exist yet.”