Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald will this evening speak at Sinn Féin’s event ‘Peace to Unity: A New Chapter in British–Irish Relations’ at the British Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
Ms. McDonald will say:
“We are just over two years away from marking the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement – a moment to reflect not only on how far we’ve come, but on where we are going.
“The unity conversation is live, happing in real time. The people are ahead of the government’s and they must catch-up.
“We require now a systematic focus on the constitutional futures of Britain and Ireland.
“This must be led at the highest levels within the British and Irish governments.
“In March this year Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin established a ‘UK-Ireland 2030 Steering Group’ led by the Cabinet Office and Department of the Taoiseach to advance a shared policy agenda. But this work must now go much further. A border poll and referenda on Irish reunification cannot be ignored.
“Understanding the implications of constitutional change, transition and reconfigured governance arrangements across both islands requires engagement now.
“The British Prime Minister and An Taoiseach must lead this historic work.
“No party owns this process. Not Sinn Féin. Not the two governments. But all of us have obligations, responsibilities, and all of us must lead.
“Engaging the political parties, civic society, key sectors including industry, unions, and wider civil society is vital.
“People must be consulted, and the two governments must now set out proposals for delivering legal, fair and decisive referenda and a negotiated timeframe by the end of this decade.
“Give the people a democratic choice to make a historic decision on our shared future together.
“The Labour government played a central role in securing peace in 1998. The next challenge is moving from peace to unity, through a peaceful, organised and planned transition, opening up a new chapter in British-Irish relations.”
CRÍOCH/ENDS
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