Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Referendum on the Future of Northern Ireland

Wednesday 4 November 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK Government are fully committed to the requirements set out in the Belfast/Good Friday agreement regarding referendums on Northern Ireland's constitutional status.
  • The Government are focused on ensuring Northern Ireland businesses have unfettered access to the entire United Kingdom market through the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill.
  • The High Court ruled that there is no legal requirement to set fixed criteria for holding a unity referendum in Northern Ireland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Geraint Davies Lab
Northern Ireland
Context

No specific event prompted this question, but it addresses the political climate surrounding Northern Ireland's constitutional status.

Question

What assessment has been made of public opinion on holding a referendum on the future of Northern Ireland in accordance with the Good Friday agreement?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The UK Government are fully committed to the requirements set out in the Belfast/Good Friday agreement in relation to circumstances that require the Secretary of State to hold a referendum on a change in Northern Ireland's constitutional status. The majority of people in Northern Ireland continue to support Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any assessment of public opinion, only restated government commitment without specifics.

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Q2 Geraint Davies Lab
Northern Ireland Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Food producers have concerns about trade arrangements following the Brexit transition period.

Question

Given that food producers still lack clarity on trading arrangements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, does the Secretary of State agree that this Government's avoidable failure to prepare now risks damaging Northern Ireland's place within the UK internal market?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The Government are focused on delivering unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the entire United Kingdom market, and this is what the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill aims to deliver. The specialist joint committee's work will ensure a free flow of goods.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledged the issue but did not directly address the risk mentioned in the question regarding damaging Northern Ireland's place within the UK internal market.

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Q3 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Foyle
Northern Ireland
Context

There is ongoing discussion about the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.

Question

Given that the Good Friday agreement outlines mechanisms for dealing with a constitutional future through a unity referendum, will the Secretary of State specify what criteria he will use to determine when such a poll should be called?

Answer from Brandon Lewis

The High Court ruled that there is no legal requirement to set out fixed criteria on holding a poll, and it agreed that such criteria are not necessary or in the public interest.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific criteria as requested, instead referenced a legal ruling against setting fixed criteria.

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