Labour Party not prioritising border poll - NI minister

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".

"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.

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.

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.