Call for Clarity on United Ireland Border Poll
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has urged the Northern Ireland secretary to clarify the criteria for calling a border poll. The Good Friday Agreement states that a referendum should be held if the secretary believes a majority in Northern Ireland would vote for Irish unification, but the method for determining this is unclear. Long emphasized the need for certainty in the process to avoid every election becoming a potential border poll.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, aimed to end the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. It established a new government in Northern Ireland representing both nationalists and unionists. The agreement stipulates that Northern Ireland is part of the UK and any change requires a referendum. The secretary of state must call a border poll if it seems likely that a majority would support Irish unification, with no specific guidance on how to assess this.
In a podcast called Borderland – UK or United Ireland?, Alliance Party's growing influence in Northern Ireland was discussed. Political analysts suggest their support could be pivotal in any future border poll. Long expressed a preference for basing the decision on polling rather than election results, highlighting the need to consider practical implications such as cost and governance in any referendum, drawing parallels to oversights during the Brexit process.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill welcomed Long's call for clarity on the border poll criteria, echoing her own longstanding advocacy for transparency in this matter. However, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Gavin Robinson, criticized Long for aligning too closely with nationalist ideals and attempting to alter the current rules for calling a border poll. Earlier discussions on the topic had suggested basing the decision on opinion polls, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the secretary of state.
The 'Borderland – UK or United Ireland' podcast series explores the constitutional future of Northern Ireland, including the complexities of a potential united Ireland poll. The Irish government has been accused of hindering progress towards a united Ireland vote, while various political figures continue to debate the criteria and process for calling a border poll.