BEHIND all the fuss about the Northern Irish backstop and saving the "precious Union" lies the demographic fact that the people of Northern Ireland may soon vote to leave the UK.

The 2011 census showed that 48 per cent (864,000) of Northern Ireland's 1.8 million population originated from Protestant households, while those from Catholic households accounted for 45 per cent (810,000), a Protestant-background majority of just 54,000.

With far more Catholics than Protestants in primary, secondary and third-level education, there should soon be a Catholic majority.

DUP leaders Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster are acutely aware of the coming changes. That's why Mrs Foster became the first DUP leader to attend the Ulster GAA Cup Final in Monaghan this summer, even standing when the band struck up The Soldier's Song. She also visits Gaelic-medium schools and uses a few words in Irish.

The future of the Union in Northern Ireland will depend on the Catholic middle-class voting Unionist. Currently, seven of the 18 Northern Irish MPs refuse to take their seats in the House of Commons and 56 per cent of the Northern Irish voted to stay in the EU.

The end of the Union seems likely in Northern Ireland.

Tom Johnston,

5 Burn View, Cumbernauld.