Rise chief set to hold rally with Sinn Fein president

A STAR of the Scottish independence movement will share a stage with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams in a rally for a united Ireland.

Cat Boyd, a leading figure in left-wing Scottish nationalist alliance Rise, will speak at the Towards A United Ireland Conference in Dublin on January 21.

Her appearance comes amid renewed calls from Sinn Fein for Irish reunification and a growing solidarity between some Scottish nationalists and Irish republicans after both Scotland and Northern Ireland rejected Brexit.

Boyd, a former Jobcentre worker, topped the Glasgow list vote for Rise in the Scottish election in May but failed to get elected.

The SNP was careful to avoid conflating the causes of Scottish independence and Irish unification in the referendum campaign of 2014.

Last November, Nicola Sturgeon became the first serving head of a foreign government to address the Irish Senate.

The speech was warmly applauded by senators, many of whom wished Ms Sturgeon success in achieving independence.

Announcing details of the conference, Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy said: “The prospect of the North of Ireland being removed from the EU against the will of its people and a reinforcing of the border has brought the issue of united Ireland back on to the political agenda.

“A referendum on a united Ireland is provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.

“Sinn Fein believes that there is now an urgent need for an inclusive, constructive debate on the future, including how a united Ireland might be brought about.

“We have a very interesting line-up of speakers and I expect a major attendance.”