Next census could ask about attitudes to Irish unity
There has been a huge amount of media coverage of a border poll recently due to the EU referendum result.
Consecutive secretaries of State have stated the conditions have not been meets for this.
They have quoted differing reasons including odd surveys.
I believe to really have a good idea if the people of Northern Ireland would like a border poll would be to include the question in the next Northern Ireland census in 2021.
The question should be: “If the economic conditions were favourable, would you vote for a United Ireland” or something to that effect.
If the majority of the census returns provided a favourable result to this question, then the Secretary of State at that time would have no other option other than pushing for a proper border poll.
The timing of this would be significant in that the people would be providing their viewpoint on the 100th anniversary of the formation of the state.
John McSorley, Belfast BT5