My attention was drawn to this article by Mr Jim Allister, KC, the leader of the Tradition Unionist Voice political party, 29th April.
I made it my business to contact the author of it, Dr Edward Cooke, Doctor of Philosophy, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queens University, Belfast.
In his initial reply to my email Dr Cooke said:
Dear Rev Foster
I have been trying for over a year to bring this matter to the attention of different political parties and media outlets within NI and the UK and in 2023 I have approached the mainstream UK churches who also appear ‘disinterested’ in these issues. I would be most grateful if you used any social media platform to bring these matters to the attention of your congregation and the wider public. I enclose for you two reports on how the university sector within NI and the UK has evolved and how Unionists within NI and Christians within the UK have been marginalised in a key employment sector.
Many thanks
Edward Cooke
Accordingly, I am publishing the article as a pdf file because of its size.However, please take the time to download the article and read carefully this document exposé of what I would call the the attempt to ‘secularise’ UK universities, to the exclusion of all religious influence, especially that of Bible Christianity.
Recent Demographic Changes in the NI university sector – Feb 2022
The sad fact is that Dr Cooke says that he has “ . . been trying for over a year to bring this matter to the attention of different political parties and media outlets within NI and the UK and in 2023 I have approached the mainstream UK churches who also appear ‘disinterested’ in these issues.”
We have but a further demonstration that the political ‘watch men’ and ‘watchdogs’ representing us in the two main Unionist parties are as those of whom Isaiah the prophet complained long ago: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber,” Isaiah 56:10.
We trust that by this effort to highlight Dr Cooke’s research we may do something to stir up those who are paid handsomely to represent the interests of the Unionist and Protestant people here in Ulster.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
2nd May, 2023