Secretary of State Hilary Benn has been accused of “burying his head in the sand” over the prospect of an Irish border poll, after he said such a vote is a “long way off”.
Sinn Fein MP Daire Hughes criticised Mr Benn following his comments on the Stormont Sources podcast, where he stated that the only document he holds on the matter is the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The 1998 peace deal stipulates that the secretary of state may call a border poll if it appears likely that a majority would vote for constitutional change.
Mr Benn argued that the agreement does not set a specific date for a poll, and that the condition for calling one is not currently met in Northern Ireland. “There is nothing one can point to that says a majority of people in Northern Ireland are in favour of constitutional change,” he said, adding that such a scenario is “certainly some years off”.
In response, Mr Hughes said: “While Hilary Benn may wish to bury his head in the sand, the reality is a live and energetic debate is under way on a new and united Ireland.” He called on the British government to work with the Irish government to plan for future constitutional change.
