Border poll less likely now, says Varadkar
Tánaiste suggests Alliance Party are real victors
THE result of the Northern Assembly elections has reduced, rather than increased, the prospect of a border poll, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said.
He suggested that although Sinn Féin is now the largest party at Stormont, the overall nationalist vote has declined.
THE result of the Northern Assembly elections has reduced, rather than increased, the prospect of a border poll, Leo Varadkar has said.
The Tánaiste was speaking as Sinn Féin celebrated a historic victory by overtaking the DUP to become the largest party at Stormont yesterday.
A pillar of the party’s election campaign had been increasing calls for a referendum on Irish unity following the UK’s exit from the European Union.
However, the Tánaiste said yesterday the results in the northern elections have actually reduced the chances of a border poll.
‘On the current results if there was a vote in the new Assembly in a few weeks’ time, it would be defeated,’ Mr Varadkar said at his party’s agricultural conference in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
‘In fact, fewer deputies would vote for a border poll in the new Assembly than in the last one.’
And despite Sinn Féin being
‘Nationalist vote has actually gone down’
on course to become the biggest party in the North, Mr Varadkar said: ‘It doesn’t look as if they have gained any seats. Instead, the nationalist vote has actually gone down.
‘The election is significant [but] it is important to take a bit of time to see what the people are saying.’
However the Tánaiste conceded: ‘The election was a very good one for Sinn Féin. It is absolutely the case that Sinn Féin is the largest party. I congratulate them on that.’
However, he insisted the Alliance Party is the biggest winner in the election, saying: ‘They gained more seats, more votes than anyone else.’
Noting that the unionist vote had also fallen, Mr Varadkar said that when it came to parties who support a united Ireland: ‘That vote has gone down. If you look at the nationalist vote that has gone below 40%.’
He added: ‘It is a more complex position than [Sinn Féin president] Deputy [Mary Lou] McDonald is making it out to be.
‘There is a growing middle ground of people who don’t want to be defined by religion or ethnic identity.’
Mr Varadkar also warned that Sinn Féin’s success poses ‘an interesting challenge for them.’
He added: ‘They are a party that has always had that knack of being in government and pretending they are not in government.
‘They are the largest party in Northern Ireland and they are also the largest party here. But there is a big difference between being the largest party and being able to form a government and build a majority.’
Mr Varadkar said he hoped Sinn Féin would now ‘reach out to unionists… the Alliance and the middle ground’ to restore power-sharing in Stormont.
This was echoed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin who said: ‘People in Northern Ireland wanted a working Assembly and a political system which delivers on bread and butter issues.
‘There is an obligation on everybody elected to take their seats in the Assembly and to form an Executive.’
Speaking yesterday, Sinn Féin vice president and the woman set to become the first nationalist first minister, Michelle O’Neill, said the Assembly election ‘ushers in a new era’ as her party overtook the DUP as the largest party at Stormont.
The Alliance Party has also enjoyed a successful election and will emerge as the third largest party at Stormont, while the UUP and SDLP have had disappointing results.
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie was elected in Upper Bann despite earlier fears he could lose his seat.
As of 7pm last night, 88 of 90 Assembly seats had been filled.
Sinn Féin had 27 seats while the DUP had 24, the Alliance Party 17, the Ulster Unionists nine and the SDLP on seven, with four others.
In a press conference yesterday, Ms McDonald said the Stormont power-sharing Executive needed to be re-established. She said: ‘Collectively we have an obligation to get government up and running.’