PM urges O’Neill to focus on basics
BELFAST: Rishi Sunak has told political leaders in Northern Ireland to focus on the “day-today things that matter to people” rather than debating reunification, as he welcomed the return of power-sharing in the province.
The British Prime Minister said constitutional change should not be a priority after Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s new Sinn Fein First Minister, said a poll could be held within
10 years.
Instead, politicians were pressed to prioritise issues such as NHS waiting times and public sector pay, as Mr Sunak met senior members of the newly formed executive on a two-day trip to the province.
The Prime Minister insisted the £3.3bn ($6.4bn) financial package as part of the deal to restore power-sharing had given the newly formed executive more money than it ever had and politicians in Northern Ireland needed to “deliver” rather than fighting “constitutional” battles.
“Northern Ireland’s politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be,” Mr Sunak said.
“Our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And that’s what everyone’s priority is now. It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people.”
In an article for the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Sunak explicitly said the best way to protect the UK was to show that power sharing could deliver results for ordinary people.
“For those of us who want to see the union thrive, there is a particular responsibility to keep winning the argument for it and bringing others with us,” he wrote. “And the best way to do that is to show Northern Ireland works for everyone.”
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, also criticised Ms O’Neill for focusing on the “divisive” issue.