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The Secretary of State’s comments come after his Conservative opposite number Alex Burghart said this week that the UK state should not be neutral in the “unlikely” event of a referendum on breaking up the UK. Under the Belfast Agreement, a vote can be called when the NI secretary of the day believes there’s a likelihood a majority would vote to leave the UK. Despite no evidence that is likely, Sinn Fein has demanded a border poll by 2030. However, Hilary Benn – the man with the power to call a vote – says that won’t happen. Responding to a question from Cool FM, Hilary Benn said “the government strongly supports the Union, as I've said to you before, the prospect of a border poll is way off in the distance, because nobody is arguing that there is an appetite for constitutional change here in Northern Ireland. “I think we'd all be better advised to be concentrating on the issues of the moment, the needs of today, which is trying to improve the lives of the people of Northern Ireland. And that's what I'm trying to do”. Responding to the remarks, South Antrim MP Robin Swann said the focus must be on making Northern Ireland work for everyone. “Constitutional change simply isn’t on the agenda in Westminster or in the minds of the average person as they navigate the challenges of day-to-day life. “Our focus must remain on delivering at every level of government; that means fixing our health service, growing the economy and improving outcomes for all. Any movement towards or talk of constitutional upheaval would not only be to the detriment of the people of Northern Ireland, but will distract from real priorities and delivery that we need to see from the Executive. It is also not what the people of Northern Ireland want. “NI has a bright future, as part of the UK, and the British Government would do well to better promote the value that NI adds to the Union, and the value the Union adds to NI”, Mr Swann said.
