Downing Street responds to Donald Trump's push for Northern Ireland to leave UK

Thank you for subscribing!

The President said a united Ireland is 'going to happen eventually, it may as well happen now'

Downing Street remains "committed" to the Good Friday Agreement following a bombshell intervention from President Donald Trump regarding a united Ireland.

President Trump suggested the reunification of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is "going to happen eventually, it may as well happen now".

Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the UK Secretary of State can decide to hold a border poll, and it also places a duty on the office holder to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.

The people of the Republic of Ireland must also vote in favour to effect constitutional change.

In response to GB News, a spokesman for the Prime Minister declined to release a new statement but stressed Mr Burnham remains committed to the Good Friday Agreement, pointing to comments made in the House of Commons earlier this week.

In response to a question from the Scottish National Party MP for Dundee Central Chris Law during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Burnham said he would stick to the conditions of the Good Friday Agreement "100 per cent."

The Prime Minister continued: "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 where the call has to be has to be considered.

"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, there won't be one."

During a visit to Belfast last month, Mr Burnham said Irish border poll is "off the table" as he took a swipe at the impact of the Brexit referendum.

The Prime Minister said: "I think a decade since the Brexit referendum, I think we’ve had too much division, too much arguing, too much backward looking. We need to fix the things right in front of us in the here and now."

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald reacted strongly to the remarks, stating that no prime minister has the right to "high-handedly" remove the provision for a unity referendum from the Good Friday Agreement.

However, DUP leader Gavin Robinson welcomed the comments, stating the Prime Minister had "put to bed the nonsense" speculation over a unity poll.

Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the Secretary of State can decide to hold a border poll.

It also places a duty on the office holder to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.

However, the most recent polling from June of 1,534 Northern Ireland electors by the University of Liverpool found 49.7 per cent did not support unification, compared to 35.8 per cent were in favour, while 4.7 per cent "do not know" and 9.8 per cent "neither agree/disagree".