The leader of the SDLP at Stormont, Matthew O’Toole, has presented a united Ireland as an alternative to a potential Reform-led UK government. Speaking after a surge for Reform in recent local elections in Britain and a crisis at the top of the Labour government, O’Toole warned the Assembly of the “rise of a dark and destructive political force.” He argued that a government led by Nigel Farage would have a “seismic consequence” for the people of Northern Ireland.
Impact of British Decisions on Northern Ireland
O’Toole emphasised that decisions made in Whitehall and Westminster have a direct impact on Northern Ireland. “We’re consistently told that in relation to the budget and limitations in terms of the financial settlement, we’re told that in terms of the most routine business, whether that’s getting agreement to introduce legislation, whether that’s getting clarity on whether a certain piece of legislation applies to the north or not,” he told MLAs. He cited the Brexit vote as a prime example, where Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union but was taken out against its will by votes from Great Britain.
Call for a New Ireland
O’Toole argued that a Reform-led government would be detrimental to Northern Ireland, stating, “I do not want to live in a country run by Nigel Farage, that’s not to do with the colour of my passport, I simply don’t want to live in a country governed by that charlatan.” He claimed that people of all backgrounds in Northern Ireland share this sentiment. For those seeking a future back in the EU, he said the only way is to “opt for a new Ireland back inside Europe.”
Sinn Fein and DUP Reactions
Sinn Fein MLA Declan Kearney described the recent election results in England, Scotland, and Wales as “really significant political change.” He said the results, along with victories for nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales, “should be a wake-up call for the British Government.” He contrasted “more Westminster political chaos, more austerity, more ongoing isolation from the European Union and the rise of far right Reform politics” with “self-determination and new constitutional arrangements.” He added that “Irish unity is not inevitable but it is more possible now than at any stage before.”
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley criticised the opposition motion, arguing it came “at a time when families are struggling with the cost of living, waiting lists are dire, when businesses are facing enormous pressure and when people want government focused on delivery.” He accused the SDLP of seeking “not to fix these problems but to call for a divisive border poll.”
UUP and Motion Outcome
UUP MLA Steve Aiken slammed the motion as “ill-disguised” and an attempt to make the case for a united Ireland. He noted that “democracy often brings up results that may be unpalatable to others, that is indeed the price of a free vote in our United Kingdom.” He pointed out that the election results in Wales saw a protest vote that boosted Plaid Cymru, not as a call for independence but as a protest against “decades of incompetence by the Welsh Labour Party.”
The motion was ultimately voted down by 34 votes to 33, with 16 MLAs voting in both lobbies.
