Karen Bradley lacks necessary knowledge, claims Sinn Fein

Mary Lou McDonald made the comments as she accused the cabinet minister of making “erroneous and dangerous” comments about voting rights in a potential border poll.

Ms Bradley sparked controversy when she appeared to suggest that Irish citizens living in the UK could not vote in such a referendum, but the government later moved to clarify her remarks.

Speaking during a visit to Westminster for Brexit talks, Mrs McDonald said: “Karen Bradley has proven not to have a very deep appreciation of Irish politics or the dynamic of Irish politics…I am concerned that the secretary of state would make such ill-judged and inaccurate comments around people’s right to vote in any potential unity referendum. That worries me and that does undermine public confidence in her.”

Asked if Ms Bradley should resign, Mrs McDonald said that her resignation “wouldn’t solve the problem”.

“The issue that we have here regards this government’s stewardship of the peace process is far deeper and goes much wider than Karen Bradley.”

Last month Labour MP Conor McGinn asked Mrs Bradley why the reciprocal voting rights for Irish citizens do not cover referenda. In her reply, Ms Bradley said: “The voting rights which will continue to be enjoyed by British and Irish citizens are reciprocal.

“British citizens may vote in local and parliamentary elections in Ireland but not presidential elections or referendums. This reciprocal right is reflected in the voting rights of Irish citizens living in the United Kingdom.”

The government later said voter eligibility rules for referenda were determined on a poll by poll basis. Irish citizens were able to vote in the 2016 EU referendum.

Michelle O’Neill yesterday met Mrs Bradley in Westminster while Mrs McDonald met Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mrs McDonald warned that a customs union does not “solve the problem for the north of Ireland”. She said a customs union “probably makes sense for Britain” but “you need to be aware that membership of the customs union alone does not solve the problem for the north of Ireland – we need alignment also with the single market”.