Parties welcome Trimble's call for poll on Irish unity

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Leading article: Mr Reid must ask: is this referendum really needed?

The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble's surprise weekend call for an early referendum on Irish unity has drawn welcomes of various kinds from the other main Northern Ireland parties, from the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists to the nationalists of the SDLP and the republicans of Sinn Fein.

The Government has promised to consider the move, though ministers were clearly taken by surprise by its appearance in Mr Trimble's speech to his party's annual conference in Belfast.

Much now depends on whether it remains in the realms of a rousing conference speech or whether Mr Trimble presses his case with determination.

The speech was certainly combative, with a strong attack on the Irish Republic as a "pathetic, sectarian, mono-ethnic, mono-cultural state".

The actual strength of support for it among other parties will also have to be tested, since at least some may have reacted for form's sake rather than with real enthusiasm.

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement provides for the holding of referendums on whether Northern Ireland should be part of the United Kingdom or a united Ireland.

Opinions may differ on the meaning of its wording, with some arguing that a referendum can be held at the discretion of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, while others maintain that the minister may hold a poll only if it is likely that a majority for Irish unity has emerged.

Any poll in the foreseeable future would show most in favour of remaining in the UK, since although the Catholic proportion is growing it remains well behind the Protestant community in terms of the population of voting age.

Mr Trimble declared: "Let's call the republican bluff. Let's put the issue to bed for another generation ­ let us copper-fasten the Union and put the naysayers and prophets of gloom to flight. It will kill the issue and show to nationalists and republicans that there is no point in daydreaming."

Bairbre de Brun, the Sinn Fein Health Minister said: "A growing tide of opinion sees the sense of a united Ireland."

* Police officers given big pay-offs and pensions as part of policing reforms in Northern Ireland are back working for the force as civilians because of a manpower shortage. The new police service already has fewer officers than the minimum Chris Patten proposed.