![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/Labour-has-sparked-outrage-after-suggesting-it-would-be-willing-to-hold-a-border-poll-1674805.jpg?r=1664273041077\")
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Labour has sparked outrage after suggesting it is willing to break up the UK and call a vote on Irish unification. The party’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle suggested this week that he would shortly set out the criteria required for calling a referendum on the province’s place in the UK.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the BBC he promised not “to be a barrier” to the unification of the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n
His comments have sparked outrage among Unionists who accused him of “dangerous” politics by unnecessarily promoting the idea of a border poll.<\/p>\n
DUP MP Sammy Wilson told Express.co.uk: “As we’ve seen in Scotland, as soon as you start talking about a border poll, those who want to break up the UK become obsessed about that.<\/p>\n
“Labour seem quite happy for Northern Ireland to break away from the rest of the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
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“It is a very dangerous position given what is happening in Scotland. If Labour wants to claim to be a party of the union then it has got to be a party for the whole union, not part of the union.<\/p>\n
“Peter Kyle knows a border poll, or even talk of a border poll, does not add to stability in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
“In fact, all it does is distract from the real issues that need to be addressed.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie criticised the Labour MP’s comments as “unhelpful and ill-timed”.<\/p>\n
“Regrettably Peter Kyle’s comments are a distraction from that and draw political focus away from those immediate challenges,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They are unhelpful and ill-timed as they do none of those things. I have already been in touch with Peter Kyle to express my concern. We should be focusing on the here and now.”<\/p>\n
DON’T MISS:<\/strong> The Good Friday Agreement states that a poll on Irish unification must be held if it appears likely the majority want Northern Ireland to no longer be a part of the UK.<\/p>\n Yesterday Mr Kyle accused the Government of “Tory neglect” over Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n He said in a speech to Labour members: “The only hope of progress is a Labour government.<\/p>\n “The Tories see problems as a chance for a row, to deepen division.<\/p>\n “We see problems as a chance to solve the challenges that hold us back, to create new opportunities and bring people together.<\/p>\n “That requires a leader capable of statecraft. Who knows hard graft. Who shows people respect, even when they sometimes disagree.<\/p>\n “That’s why I’m proud to have Keir Starmer as our leader.<\/p>\n “He has the skills Northern Ireland needs to succeed.”<\/p>\n
EU ambassador blasts UK for lack of ‘trust’ as tensions boil [REACTION]<\/strong>
‘Labour tends to side with the bullies rather than the victims’ [COMMENT]<\/strong>
Andy Burnham red-faced as Labour members fail to show for his talk [UPDATE]<\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Sammy-Wilson-accused-labour-of-playing-dangerous-politics-4306258.jpg?r=1664273041122\")
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