DUP slams ‘disgraceful' comments by UK minister who hinted Irish unity decision would be ‘based on opinion polls'
Michelle McIlveen was speaking after Labour MP Fleur Anderson – who is under secretary in the Northern Ireland Office – indicated that the criteria for when a vote would be triggered would be 'based on opinion polls'.
Ms McIlveen, the DUP's deputy leader, said that a border poll would be 'divisive' and that 'most people living here just want to make Northern Ireland work'.
She said Ms Anderson's comments were 'ill-considered'.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, the power to call a Border poll on Irish unity rests with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. However, they have consistently refused to outline what exactly would be required.
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has appeared to distance itself from Ms Anderson's comments, saying 'responsibility for a referendum sits solely with the Secretary of State'.
'This is clearly set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which gives effect to the Good Friday Agreement and the principle of consent,' a spokesperson said.
'This has been — and remains — the only condition. The Secretary of State has been clear that there is no evidence that this condition has been met.'
It came after a weekend in Sinn Féin renewed calls for a border poll by 2030.
Ms McIlveen said support for nationalist, pro-border poll parties had remained static since 1998.
'The combined support for the SDLP and Sinn Fein in 1998 was 39.6pc and in 2022 was 38.1pc,' she added. 'The suggestion by Minister Fleur Anderson that opinion polls could dictate the timing of a Border poll is ill-judged.
'The sgreement makes clear that such a decision rests with the Secretary of State, based on clear evidence of a likely majority for constitutional change, not some haphazard opinion poll.
'That a minister in His Majesty's Government seems ambivalent and so uncertain about maintaining the Union is quite disgraceful.
'Last Friday, it was the Secretary of State who shared his irrelevant musings that we are ignorant of the law and how Northern Ireland is governed. Today, it's the Minister of State. Collectively, the NIO ministers need better counsel. They must do better.'
The NIO has been contacted for comment on Ms McIlveen's remarks.
The legislation states the Secretary of State should call a referendum on Irish unity 'if it appears likely to him that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the UK and form part of united Ireland'.
Earlier this year, a LucidTalk poll published by the Belfast Telegraph showed that 48pc of Northern Ireland voters want to stay in the UK, while 41pc are in favour of constitutional change.
In last year's Westminster election, the total unionist vote was just over 43pc while the nationalist vote was slightly over 40pc.
In a survey last year there was a 10-point gap between the two sides; with 49pc supporting staying in the UK, while 39pc wanted Irish unity.
In our most recent survey, 10pc of people said they were unsure how they'd vote, while 1pc would abstain or spoil their ballot.
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