UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has overseen a historic shift in Northern Ireland with the restoration of power-sharing at Stormont and the sealing of a deal. Sunak met with the new First Minister, Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Fein, and emphasized the need for leaders to concentrate on 'day-to-day' issues rather than constitutional change. Despite this, O'Neill has suggested that a border reunification poll could be held within the next decade, a prospect that Sunak resists, insisting that priorities should focus on immediate concerns rather than 'constitutional change'. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also downplayed the immediacy of a border poll, affirming that it is 'not for today.' The issue of a potential referendum on Irish unity has been influenced by Brexit, with voters still blaming the Conservative Party for the region's disruption.
Rishi Sunak 'eyes October general election' to avoid clash with US presidential race https://t.co/BPLkwViC1c
Rishi Sunak eyes earlier general election 'to avoid global instability of Trump victory' https://t.co/Ng0j1aV0kY
🚨 BREAKING: A November general election is now off the table as Rishi Sunak eyes October
British PM Sunak in Northern Ireland relishing a rare success with election of pro-unity First Minister https://t.co/HmHyAopJSJ
New Northern Irish leader anticipates a referendum on Irish unity to take place within the next 10 years https://t.co/keQszroVXY https://t.co/fRwRrfad91
🇮🇪🇬🇧🚨‼️The Northern Ireland government intends to withdraw the country from the UK and unify with Ireland within the next 10 years The country's new Prime Minister Michelle O'Neill will raise the issue of a referendum and secession at a meeting with Rishi Sunak. 📝 “Only the… https://t.co/59PUbwRSZL
Sunak urges Northern Irish executive to focus on ‘day-to-day matters’ https://t.co/A2UG1d95IG via @ft
Referendum Romance 💐 Rishi Sunak shook hands with Sinn Fein’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill in Belfast. But as Stormont reconvenes after two years, PM rejects nationalist push for border poll 🔗 Read more: https://t.co/bfNsWAF0Lm https://t.co/LcgyvPIw0l
Rishi Sunak & Michelle O'Neill enjoy a hug today. Even leaving aside O'Neill and Sinn Fein's murky history (if that's at all possible), I just don't think it's appropriate for political leaders (especially a PM) to engage in these mushy displays of mutual affection. Anyone else? https://t.co/Z8njohhoY6
Sunak claims North Ireland win, but voters still blame Tories for Brexit strife https://t.co/fZ3QhfjDsG via @jenniduggan https://t.co/krVvqIBnDb
Leo Varadkar says Irish unity is 'not a question for today' at Stormont. https://t.co/xLE5z4zoOk https://t.co/oFXKqFVNyn
🔴 Rishi Sunak warns DUP collapsing Northern Irish Assembly again risks damaging the Union https://t.co/lYhxux2HdT
The Northern Ireland government intends to withdraw the country from the UK within the next 10 years The country's new Prime Minister Michelle O'Neill will raise the issue of a referendum and secession at a meeting with Rishi Sunak. “Only the people here will decide when… https://t.co/IbBqorc8Li
Rishi Sunak urges Northern Ireland to 'focus on things that matter', not vote on united Ireland https://t.co/t1EPOJ9EZQ
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak marks a rare political victory in Northern Ireland, but voters still blame his party for the disruption caused by Brexit to the region https://t.co/dgrWAdx28D
Rishi Sunak urged political leaders in Northern Ireland to focus on the “day-to-day things that matter to people” rather than debating reunification as he welcomed the return of power-sharing to the province ⬇️ https://t.co/4OfFkULEdM
Does Rishi Sunak deserves his moment in the Northern Ireland sun? #QTWTAIY from me @indypremium https://t.co/qJVVnHKHd2
Q: PM, in your words, this has been painstaking work to get Stormont up and running. It’s a big achievement but do you also acknowledge that, as Michelle O’Neill, there could be a referendum on Irish reunification within the decade? https://t.co/hmgXM8daOW
Rishi Sunak said 'constitutional change' in Northern Ireland was not a priority after Michelle O’Neill claimed a border poll on reunification could be held in the next 10 years. He said Stormont leaders should focus on the 'day-to-day' concerns of people instead https://t.co/xRH8G824EG
Q: PM clear that, as Stormont running again, this is not about Qs of “constitutional change". But, despite what we he says hasn’t the focused shifted to a border poll cos’ of Brexit & might that come within the decade? (Varadkar says later the Q of a border poll ‘not for today’) https://t.co/LAOfVHOF5o
NEW: Just did broadcasters’ pool clip in NI with PM. Asked about the Q of a referendum on the reunification of Ireland in the next decade (as per Michelle O’Neill in @skydavidblevins). PM said priority must be on “day-to-day” and not constitutional change https://t.co/ei3q4UegVi
Asked Leo Varadkar about the issue of constitutional change & a border poll within a decade. He dodged and told me today about marking return on NI assembly. @skydavidblevins asked again about border poll and Varadkar said that Q “not for today”
The priority now for leaders at Stormont should be delivering on the "day-to-day" concerns of people in Northern Ireland, not "constitutional change", Rishi Sunak has said. The PM dismissed any focus on a border poll. 🔗 https://t.co/RdaBPNsVDe 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/uTrEICwzhQ
Leo Varadkar press conference at the Stormont parliament building: @GBNEWS: “Will you see a united [island of Ireland] within 10 years? Varadkar: “That’s not for today.” https://t.co/rIYeHBDlKV
BREAKING: Sunak insists priority in Northern Ireland is not 'constitutional change' https://t.co/QhweU7ck5z
Rishi Sunak set the seal on a historic shift in Northern Ireland as he shook hands with nationalist First Minister Michelle O’Neill #frontpage Read more about what the future could hold for both nations: https://t.co/bfNsWAF0Lm https://t.co/j2QFD9VkPU
On-air and online: Rishi Sunak meets up with the new Stormont Executive And you can read more here: https://t.co/O6Lr9qcAva https://t.co/O6Lr9qcAva
Rishi Sunak set the seal on a historic shift in Northern Ireland as he shook hands with First Minister Michelle O’Neill #frontpage But there's been push back at Ms O’Neill’s suggestion that a border reunification poll could come in the next decade: https://t.co/bfNsWAF0Lm https://t.co/0ISf2k5h7v
For Rishi Sunak there will be relief following the deal over Stormont powersharing - but it’s unlikely to be all smooth sailing in Belfast today as Michelle O’Neill plans to bring up the delicate issue of a border poll on Irish unity | @romillyweeks https://t.co/AEl6spdtWV