John McDonnell and John Finucane among figures at 'border poll' Labour conference fringe event

The long-serving Labour MP ​for Hayes and Harlington in west London will be joined by Mary Doolin (PCS union officer), Geoff Bell (author of ‘The Twilight of Unionism’), John Finucane (Sinn Fein MP for Belfast North), and Nadine Finch (chairwoman of Labour For Irish Unity – LFIU).

The gathering will take place at at 6.30-8pm in a Liverpool Quaker Meeting House tomorrow, preceded that morning by another one addressed by Mr McDonnell, titled: ‘Troops Out Movement: Anniversary and Lessons’.

Mr McDonnell, shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn from 2015 to 2020, had famously said in 2003: “It's about time we started honouring those people involved in the armed struggle.

“It was the bombs and bullets and sacrifice made by the likes of Bobby Sands that brought Britain to the negotiating table. The peace we have now is due to the action of the IRA.”

He later apologised.

On Saturday, LFIU issued a statement rebuking party leader Keir Starmer for saying a border poll is not “on the horizon”.

“We are very disappointed at Sir Keir Starmer’s reported comments,” the group said.

“This unilateral assertion is not in keeping with the Good Friday Agreement that states that it will be for the people of Ireland alone to exercise their right of self-determination by consent.”

Meanwhile, on Sunday Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd also reacted to Sir Keir’s remarks, telling BBC NI’s ‘Sunday Politics’ show: “Quite clearly sailing towards him is an Irish unity referendum, and he needs to prepare for that.

“I believe it’s coming towards us. Is it going to happen tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or next year? I don’t think it will.

“But I do think there’s a responsibility on leaders across these islands to prepare for it …

“We’ve had 10 or 11 years of Tory rule, we’ve had Tory prime ministers and secretaries of state who see their role as representing unionism.

“But their real role is this: to represent the people who have points of view here and represent the Good Friday Agreement.”