Hilary Benn once again says border poll test not met - and there's only one criterion for referendum on NI leaving the UK
Hilary Benn has once again said a border poll “is a long way off” – and that supporters of a referendum on Northern Ireland’s place in the UK are unable to produce any evidence that meets the sole test for a vote.
The Secretary of State – the only person who can decide whether a vote should be called – has also reiterated the “one criterion” which must be met under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.
It is the latest in a series of statements by Mr Benn, some predating Labour taking office, in which he has ruled out either a border poll or clarifying the test for a poll. In April last year, three months before the general election won by Keir Starmer, he said that a political judgement by the secretary of state for NI is the only means by which a border poll can be called – and using polling to assess public opinion would encourage attempts to sway the surveys. Mr Benn said then what he has repeated multiple times, including last month, that he sees “no evidence at all” that a majority of people in Northern Ireland want to leave the UK. Asked on the BBC if he would clarify the criteria for calling a vote, the then shadow NI secretary said: “No. Because there is a criterion already. It is written in the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement… it says a border poll shall be called by the Secretary of State when he or she is of the view that in the event a poll took place a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for a united Ireland”. Nationalists have repeatedly pushed for 'clearer' criteria as to how a poll should be called. Mr Benn said: "In the end it is a political judgement by the Secretary of State. Now the people who wrote the Belfast Good Friday Agreement debated long and hard. And every word, every sentence, every paragraph was carefully considered."
Mr Benn repeated his position on an episode of the Stormont Sources podcast this week – saying “there is one criterion”, and that calls for a border poll by a specific date are “not consistent with the Good Friday Agreement”.
Sinn Fein are currently demanding a vote take place by the end of the decade, but have not demonstrated majority support for constitutional change.