Northern Ireland news - live: Reunification vote ‘within decade,’ suggests Sinn Fein

Irish nationalist party has hailed ‘new era’ after emerging after winning most seats in Stormont for first time

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill hails ‘new era’ in Northern Ireland after victory

The leader of Sinn Fein has stepped up calls for a poll on Irish reunification - and claimed this will happen over the course of the next decade.

Mary Lou McDonald asked for all-Ireland citizens assembly to discuss the idea now after her republican party took the most seats in the Northern Ireland assembly election.

Also on Sunday, the British deputy prime minister said stability in the country was “imperilled” by problems with its post-Brexit agreement.

The unionist DUP will refuse to serve with Sinn Fein in a power-sharing executive unless there are major changes to the Northern Ireland protocol.

Dominic Raab told Sky News: “It’s clear from the dynamic that we now see that we won’t get to that position of stability unless and until it is fixed.”

Over in Westminster, Boris Johnson is planning to announce new laws that will “deliver on the promise of Brexit” as he looks to bounce back from a bruising set of local election results for the Tory party.

Key Points

• Irish reunification poll ‘will happen’ in next decade, says Sinn Fein leader
• Sinn Fein hails ‘new era’ after historic win
• Northern Ireland protocol ‘not working for all communities’, deputy PM admits
• Stability ‘in peril’ unless NI protocol ditched, Raab says
• Fears of ‘horrific’ Brexit trade war escalation

[8 May 2022 09:50 · Zoe Tidman]

Election results and homeownership?

Staying on the local election results for a moment, Michael Gove has suggested falling levels of home ownership were a key factor in the Conservatives’ heavy losses.

More here:

[8 May 2022 09:55 · Zoe Tidman]

Deputy PM on ‘beergate'

Dominic Raab accused Sir Keir Starmer of “complete hypocrisy” over the Durham beer and curry event being investigated by police for a possible breach of coronavirus lockdown laws.

Asked if Sir Keir should quit, the justice secretary told Sky News: “It’s the rank double standards that drive people crazy.

“He needs to fess up and answer all of the holes in the account that he gave for that beer-and-curry event in Durham.””

PA

[8 May 2022 10:00 · Zoe Tidman]

But...

Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy said Conservative ministers’ attacks on Keir Starmer over the so-called “Beergate” saga is “frankly absurd and pretty desperate”.

She would not say whether Starmer should resign if he is fined over a takeaway. “I’m not going to get into a hypothetical because I don’t believe for one moment he broke the rules,” the shadow levelling up secretary told BBC’s Sunday Morning.

Ms Nandy said: “It’s absurd to equate serial partying, lying and laughter … and a work event that people broke to eat.”

She added: “This is a game. This is a game where the Conservative party is in real trouble – they and their cheerleaders in the media are flinging mud in increasingly desperate attempts to get some of it to stick at their political opponents.”

[8 May 2022 10:07 · Zoe Tidman]

Is PM still an asset? Depends on voter, Tory MP says

Boris Johnson has always been “a divisive character”, the chair of the foreign affairs committee has said.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat was asked by Sophy Ridge on Sky News if the prime minister was still an asset to the Conservative party.

“Well, it depends on the voter,” he said.

PA

[8 May 2022 10:17 · Zoe Tidman]

What is the Northern Ireland protocol?

It seems a pretty good time to recap what is in the Northern Ireland protocol, as well as the key sticking points.

Take a look here:

[8 May 2022 10:29 · Zoe Tidman]

‘We’re going to have to fix the problem with the Northern Ireland Protocol'

Dominic Raab has made similar comments to the BBC this morning on the Northern Ireland protocol, saying problems with it needed to be fixed.

Watch here:

[8 May 2022 10:48 · Zoe Tidman]

Raab accuses Starmer of ‘rank hypocrisy’ over ‘beergate'

He has also spoken to BBC about allegations facing Sir Keir Starmer of a lockdown breach.

Dominic Raab was asked if it would be fair for the Labour leader to stay in his post even if fined, given that Boris Johnson did just that.

The deputy PM laughed, saying Sir Keir had a “bunch of questions” to answer, including over “rank hypocrisy”.

Here is a reminder of the ‘beergate’ allegations:

[8 May 2022 10:53 · Zoe Tidman]

Northern Ireland secretary to meet Stormont leaders

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, has confirmed he will meet with the leaders of the Stormont parties tomorrow to talk about resurrecting the assembly.

[8 May 2022 11:08 · Zoe Tidman]

‘Focus is on getting Stormont back up and running,’ Northern Ireland secretary says

Brandon Lewis also said there has not been a “growth” in the nationalist vote all in all.

“The number of seats held by unionist parties is still large,” he said.

“So I think the focus at the moment quite rightly is on getting Stormont back up and running.”

[8 May 2022 11:29 · Zoe Tidman]

What is happening in Northern Ireland?

Dominic Raab said earlier today it was important to sort out power arrangements in Northern Ireland for stability.

Sinn Fein became the largest party in the assembly after their assembly triumph, meaning the republican party is entitled to the first minister’s role.

But uncertainty continues to hang over the future of the devolved legislature in Belfast. Let’s take a quick look at what is going on:

Will Michelle O’Neill become first minister?

She will certainly be entitled to the post but there is a distinct possibility Sinn Fein could be prevented from taking up the first minister’s job, in the short to medium term at least, due to a lack of a willing partner in government.

As the second largest party, the DUP is entitled to the deputy first minister role.

Crucially, however, a properly functioning ministerial executive cannot be formed without both roles being filled.

And the DUP has made clear it will not return to powersharing until changes to the Northern Ireland protocol have been secured.

Is a poll on a united Ireland any closer?

While Sinn Fein has gained no more power by displacing the DUP as the largest party, the result is undoubtedly a symbolically significant moment in the post-Good Friday Agreement era.

A party that wants to ultimately see the end of the state called Northern Ireland is entitled to serve as its first minister.

But the overall nationalist vote has not surged and is still behind the overall unionist vote, albeit the gap has narrowed in recent years.

And it is important to remember the responsibility for calling a vote lies squarely with the UK Government.