[ad_1]
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster has said that a border poll on a united Ireland would be “absolutely unwise” at this point.
A new poll has found that the majority of people in Northern Ireland would like to see a referendum on the reunification of Ireland in the next five years.
Speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, the DUP leader said it was “very disappointing” to see some nationalist parties in the UK during a time of national crisis trying to seize the opportunity to speak on constitutional politics.
“We all know how divisive a border survey would be,” Ms. Foster said.
Ms. Foster said she was not against having a conversation about a survey.
“It’s not that I’m totally against it,” he said.
“I can defend the UK every day of the week because the arguments are rational, logical and they will win.
“No one suggests, not even this poll suggests, that we would lose if there were a border poll. But it would be incredibly divisive. “He said most people in Northern Ireland wanted politicians to” settle in “and deal with the pandemic.
“We only returned to return after three years of no return in January of last year and then we entered the pandemic in March. Therefore, we must move on with all the things that are important to everyone in their daily life. That’s what I’m focused on and that’s what everyone should focus on. “
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said difficult talks must start sooner rather than later.
“That’s a great story,” he said. “It’s what we’ve been saying.
“If you look at the polls in Scotland about the past, the fact of Brexit, the fact of Covid and the changes in attitude in the North.
“I think it is absolutely clear now that the UK is coming to an end and there is a great responsibility for those of us who want to see changes to manage that, and to do so in a way that is based on reconciliation and partnership.”
Northern voters would like to see a referendum on a United Ireland sometime in the next five years, while UK voters believe Scotland will likely become independent in the next decade, according to a series of polls.
The Sunday Times commissioned a series of polls across the UK to gauge attitudes towards the Union.
The findings highlight some of the difficulties Boris Johnson and the UK government face in their fight to hold the country together after their departure from the European Union.
In Northern Ireland, 47% still want to stay in the UK, 42% are in favor of a United Ireland and a significant proportion (11%) are undecided.
However, when asked if they support a referendum on a united Ireland in the next five years, 51% said yes compared to 44% who were against.
In Scotland, the poll found that 49% supported independence compared to 44% against, a margin of 52% to 48% if undecided are excluded.
In Wales, where support for independence is traditionally weaker, 23% still supported leaving the UK, while 31% supported a referendum.
Across all four nations, more voters expected Scotland to leave the UK in 10 years than they thought it still would.
In England the margin was 49% to 19%, in Northern Ireland it was 60% to 28%, in Wales 49% to 23% and in Scotland itself 49% to 30%.
With the crucial elections to the Scottish Parliament in May, the survey found the SNP was far ahead at 70% (seven points more from the last elections in 2016), while the Conservatives were down six points from 25%, and the Labor was down five points at 19%.
– Panelbase surveyed 1,206 adults residing in Scotland between January 19 and 22. YouGov surveyed 1,416 English adults between January 19 and 20 and 1,059 people in Wales aged 16 and over between January 18 and 21. Lucidtalk surveyed 2,392 people in Northern Ireland aged 16 and over between January 15 and 18.
[ad_2]