British Prime Minster Andy Burnham has said he will “stick to the Good Friday Agreement 100%”, including on the matter of holding a referendum on re-unification.
He was replying to Scottish National Party MP Chris Law, who asked if it was right that Northern Ireland has a mechanism for a referendum set out in law, but Scotland does not.
“I would also remind him on that question of a border poll: it is to be considered by the Northern Ireland Secretary when there is a clear consensus in the country, when public opinion has changed to the point where the call has to be considered,” Mr Burnham said.
“I would say exactly the same situation in Scotland. I am not aware that there is a majority of public support for another referendum, and until that changes, Mr Speaker, there won’t be one.”
Mr Burham received criticism last month when he told the media in Belfast that a referendum on a united Ireland was “off the table”.
He made the remarks when asked about the prospects of a border poll on his first official visit to Northern Ireland as British Prime Minister.
“I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table,” he said.
The remarks drew an angry response from nationalist politicians, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald stating that no prime minister has the right to “high-handedly” remove the provision for a unity referendum from the Good Friday Agreement.
Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that issues relating to Northern Ireland are on the agenda for a meeting he is due to have with Mr Burnham later this month.
He said that the conditions for calling a border poll is “an issue that has to be discussed”.
Additional reporting by PA