Labour vows to do nothing in any future referendum on Northern Ireland to the horror of unionists

LABOUR vowed to do nothing in any future referendum on Northern Ireland — to the horror of unionists last night.

Party leader Sir Keir Starmer backed his Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh after she said: “If there is a border poll, we should remain neutral.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer backed his Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh after she said: “If there is a border poll (in Northern Ireland), we should remain neutral.”

She continued: “It’s not my job to be a persuader of the Union.”

Following a backlash, Labour said it was their long-standing position — and that the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement outlawed the UK Government taking a side.

But the Northern Ireland Office criticised the claim, hitting back: “There is no stipulation within the Good Friday Agreement that the UK Government must remain neutral.”

Ex-DUP First Minister Arlene Foster said: “Clearly, Labour needs to re-read the Belfast Agreement.”

Last night a Tory source said: “With the SDLP as their sister party, and their shadow NI Secretary saying it is not her role to be a ‘persuader for the Union’, how can they claim to be Unionist party with a straight face?”