Next government should plan for Irish unity, former SDLP leader says

The next Irish government should include planning for constitutional change across the island among its commitments, a former SDLP leader has said.

Colum Eastwood said his party’s New Ireland Commission, set up to facilitate discussions on the possibilities of a united Ireland, had written to all the parties in the Republic before and after the General Election.

Mr Eastwood told the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme that conversations about a unity referendum had “moved to a different level” since Brexit in 2016.

READ MORE: Gardai quiz violent criminal over attack on off duty officers

READ MORE: Woman hospitalised after head almost squashed by bus during alleged assault in Dun Laoghaire

The Foyle MP said: “I have heard people talking about it that I wouldn’t have heard talking about it before.

“And I think we now have really a responsibility on those of us who want to see change to make it happen, but also to make it happen in a way that brings people with us.

“We’ve had probably thousands of conversations in different places, places you wouldn’t imagine, with people who don’t agree with us and people who do agree with us, but now we have to move that on.

“Over the past number of months, one of the things we did was work with the parties in the South.

“Before the election in the south, we asked them all to make a commitment to working towards Irish unity and to planning for Irish unity, if they form part of the next government.

“Every one of them wrote back with that commitment and we saw that in their manifestos.

“I’ve written and spoken to them again about the need to turn those manifesto pledges into real commitments in the programme for government and I am hopeful that will happen.”

Mr Eastwood said Irish unity would be a “major undertaking” and couldn’t be achieved “unless we have the planning work done by the Irish government”. The SDLP politician said he had more time to devote to working with the New Ireland Commission since he resigned the party leadership.

He added: “The reason we want to see a new Ireland and constitutional change is because we think we can do better with the health service, we think we can have a better, more open, more prosperous economy for our young people as part of a new Ireland.

“This has to be about lifting people out of poverty, giving people opportunity, having better public services. The bottom line is that ain’t working as part of the UK with all the conversations we’ve heard about the state of public finances in Britain affecting people in Northern Ireland.

“I think we can do things better, I think we can design our own future that involves everybody, that makes sure that people on this island are making decisions about their economic and social future.”

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously said a united Ireland is not on his horizon and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has said he believed the prospect of a vote on Irish unity is “off into the distance”.

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.