A UK Labour government would stay neutral in a Border poll – shadow NI secretary

A Labour government in Britain would remain neutral on the question of Irish unity in any future Border poll, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh has said. She described Labour as a unionist party but said the Belfast Agreement meant that the British government should not act as a persuader on one side of the argument.

“The principal of consent is still very much intact. It is only for the people of Northern Ireland to determine their own constitutional future and polls still suggest there is still a very firm majority in favour of remaining in the United Kingdom,” she told GB News.

“It’s not my job to be a persuader for the union, that was an important principle that led up to the Good Friday Agreement. One of the important principles was that Britain should not have any strategic or selfish economic interest in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. It’s up to the people of Northern Ireland to determine their own constitutional future.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer said in July that he would be “on the side of unionists” arguing for Northern Ireland to remain in the UK.

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“I respect the principle that the decision, in the end, is for the people of the island of Ireland,” he said.

“I personally, as leader of the Labour Party, believe in the United Kingdom strongly, and would want to make the case for a United Kingdom strongly and will be doing that.”

DUP MP Carla Lockhart condemned Ms Haigh’s comments, which she said were at odds with the position of her party leader.

“Less than six months ago Sir Keir Starmer was clear that he would campaign for Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom in any future Border poll. The comments of Louise Haigh not only contradict these but demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the principle of consent,” she said.

Ms Haigh’s comments reflect Labour’s position since Tony Blair became leader and the party abandoned its policy of supporting Irish unity by consent. Under Mr Blair, Labour said it would no longer be a persuader for Irish unity and his Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam said the Belfast Agreement required the British government to remain neutral on the constitutional question.