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Labour Party not prioritising border poll - NI minister

UK Parliament Fleur Anderson looking at camera. She is wearing a red blazer and a black blouse. UK Parliament
Fleur Anderson is under secretary of state to Hilary Benn

A border poll is 'not a priority' for the Labour Party, according to a Northern Ireland minister.

Fleur Anderson was speaking at an SDLP fringe event at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

Anderson who is under secretary of state to Hilary Benn said she did not believe a border poll was imminent.

The incoming SDLP leader, Claire Hanna, said Anderson's comments were not a surprise adding she was "not about policing what other politicians do or say".

Getty Images A stock image of a map of Northern Ireland with red line clearly indicating the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.Getty Images
Anderson says she doesn't believe a border poll was 'imminent'

"I don't think that's a big change. We live in the real world; we have common interests.

"We know there are a range of constitutional views in the Labour Party but we also know they respect the Good Friday Agreement which means the constitutional future of Northern Ireland is in the hands of people of Northern Ireland."

Not a surprise for SDLP

Analysis, Gareth Gordon, BBC News NI Political Correspondent

To be fair to the SDLP, they’ve long made it clear that while a united Ireland - or in their terms a 'New Ireland' - is their ultimate destination, they know there’s much work to do before then.

Claire Hanna denied that Fleur Anderson’s comments were a surprise.

But she could have done without them here and now.

Read more.

Five people sitting at a long table second in from the left is Fleur Anderson who is wearing a blue blazer with a printed top, Matthew O'Toole is dressed in a navy suit with a white shirt, Colum Eastwood wears a similar suit and Claire Hanna is dressed in green.
An SDLP fringe event is being held at the Labour Party conference

On Sunday, Mary Lou McDonald called for the UK government to stop "dodging" a timeline on Irish unification.

The Sinn Féin president reconfirmed the party's commitment to have a border poll called in the next six years.

She said history would "not reflect kindly" on a Labour prime minister who would not grasp this opportunity.

PA Media Claire Hanna is pictured smiling at the camera as she wears a navy blazer with white stripe detailing and a black top. The background is blurred.PA Media
Upcoming SDLP leader said Anderson's comments were not surprising

Hanna responded to McDonald's remarks adding that she "would like a little more focus on the how and why" rather than the "obsession" over the mechanism of a border poll.

"The SDLP know that there is work to do before we are at the point where a border poll is going to be called," she added.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the Good Friday Agreement was "very clear" about the circumstances in which a border poll must be held.

"There is no evidence in Northern Ireland that that is the view of the people. If public opinion changes, of course I'd have to take that into account."

Last year, Sir Keir Starmer said a referendum on Irish unification is "not even on the horizon" adding he did not think "we're anywhere near that kind of question. It's absolutely hypothetical".

He has previously said he would campaign for Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK if such a referendum was held in his lifetime.