The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, will strongly reiterate the principle of consent when she replies to a Labour conference debate on Northern Ireland later this morning, writes Frank Millar.Following an angry unionist reaction to her comments on the issue in a recent newspaper article, Dr Mowlam will tell conference: "There will be no change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland without the clear consent of a majority of the people who live there."
At the same time, Dr Mowlam will affirm Labour's commitment to the basic principles of fairness, justice and equality of opportunity. She will say it is "indefensible" that unemployment remains twice as high among Catholics as among Protestants in the North.
Dr Mowlam will also make a strong personal attack on "the sheer rawness of sectarian bigotry and hatred" which still disfigures parts of Northern Ireland, fuelling fear and hatred across the community.
Dr Mowlam, who was on the platform yesterday defending Labour's latest internal reforms for the ruling NEC, will continue her packed programme with a lunchtime question and answer session on the conference fringe, in advance of the main conference event of the week - Mr Tony Blair's address to conference as the first Labour Prime Minister in 19 years.
His speech is expected to contain a strong reference to Northern Ireland, underlining his commitment to the talks process and his determination to reach a political agreement by next May.
British government sources last night were refusing to comment on continuing speculation that Mr Blair might undertake a series of meetings with party leaders - including the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams - at the Stormont talks venue next week.
Dr Mowlam will ask conference this morning to approve a "composite" motion calling on the government to "work with the Irish Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to promote a new settlement based on consent and agreement, which can command the support of both communities in Northern Ireland".
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, held the first in a series of fringe meetings on Northern Ireland on Sunday night. Mr David Trimble, the UUP leader, will address a meeting on Thursday hosted by the Unionist Information Office.