SDLP challenged to back referendum on Irish unity

The nationalist SDLP was challenged today to say whether it would back a post-election referendum on Irish unity.

Sinn Féin general secretary Mitchel McLaughlin, who is engaged in a fierce battle with the SDLP’s leader Mark Durkan for the Foyle House of Commons seat, called on his rivals to demonstrate their support for a united Ireland by demanding a border poll.

The Foyle Assembly member said: “Given our two parties espoused position in favour of Irish unity, I would expect that the SDLP would back an immediate call for a referendum on partition.

“After the elections are over, we intend to engage the SDLP on how we can best prosecute the united Ireland agenda with the parties and the two governments.

“Both parties – Sinn Féin and the SDLP – are saying the same thing: we wish for a united Ireland. Both parties should therefore push for a referendum on the border immediately following the elections.”

Sinn Féin and the SDLP have both released strategy documents for achieving a united Ireland.

The SDLP argued it would preserve the Stormont Assembly and Executive set up under the Good Friday Agreement in a united Ireland as well as the accord‘s equality and human rights protections including a Bill of Rights.

In a united Ireland, people living in the six counties which make up Northern Ireland would still be able to describe themselves as British or Irish and there would be seats in the House of Lords for those who wish to have representation there.

There would be more representation for Northern Ireland parties in the Dáil in a united Ireland than there is at Westminster and the Irish constitution would be amended to guarantee the future of the Stormont Assembly as a regional parliament of a united Ireland and key protections in the Good Friday Agreement.

Their document also insisted a referendum should be held once the Good Friday Agreement institutions were bedded down and stable.

Sinn Féin’s discussion paper calls on the Irish Government to draw up a strategy towards Irish unity, with a Green paper completed within one year identifying steps and measures which can assist and promote the successful transition to a united Ireland.

The Irish Government, the party believes, should negotiate the issue with the British government and support should also be sought internationally.

The Green Paper would be referred to a joint committee of both houses of Parliament in Dublin to monitor, assess and report on how it is being implemented and a Government minister appointed to oversee its implementation.

Northern Ireland MPs would also be given automatic representation in the Dáil and also a determined number of seats allocated to nationalist, unionist and other parties north of the border based on party strength, with citizens there able to vote members of the Seanad and for the Irish President.