Secretary of state should establish criteria for holding any referendum on the future of Northern Ireland

It is a bit like the UK previously having a list of criteria for joining the euro in the past.

We need more than ‘possible discretion’ from the SoS. We also need a set of criteria for a constitutional poll in Northern Ireland. This would not only be a more open process but would provide markers for when the poll might be called.

The forthcoming census in 2021 is one of the sources that will be very informative.

The irony is that if there had been a federalisation of the UK then there would have been less fear of a federal Europe.

England has become more messy than the rest of the UK. This is illustrated by the DUP abstaining mostly on school meal support but funding it in Northern Ireland.

The Westminster parliament buildings are now being renovated. If there there was joined-up thinking, then an English Parliament building would be in construction now and commissioned for England after being used as a temporary Westminster / UK chamber.

The Tories will not lose England for sake of the UK but they will lose the UK for the sake of England.

Gareth Burns, Kircubbin, Co Down

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor