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File image of Keir Starmer. Alamy Stock Photo

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer says a border poll is 'not even on the horizon'

Starmer said: ‘I don’t think we’re anywhere near that kind of question. It’s absolutely hypothetical.’

UK LABOUR LEADER Keir Starmer has said the prospect of a referendum on Irish unification is “absolutely hypothetical” and “not even on the horizon”.

Starmer, who could be the UK’s next prime minister, strongly rejected the idea of a border poll when questioned about political matters in the North.

The Stormont Assembly has been collapsed amid DUP protest action against internal UK trade barriers created by Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol.

The DUP has made clear it will not accept a return to devolution until the UK Government provides further assurances, by way of legislation, over Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market.

In March, Sinn Féin newspaper adverts in the US calling for a date for an Irish unity referendum were branded “unhelpful” by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at what he described as a “sensitive moment” in efforts to restore powersharing in the North.

In June, Varadkar said that Irish unification could fall off the agenda for a long time if a border poll was held and defeated.

Starmer, speaking to BBC News NI ahead of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, said: “I don’t think we’re anywhere near that kind of question.

“It’s absolutely hypothetical.

“It’s not even on the horizon.”

Starmer also outlined a desire to renegotiate an improved trade deal with the EU, saying: “I’m not interested in a deal that puts the UK in a position of being a rule taker.

“Our rules must be made in Westminster, according to the national interest of the UK as a whole.

“I am interested in resolving some of the outstanding issues.

“And obviously, that will mean making progress on things like the Windsor (Framework) agreement, the protocol, because that was a step in the right direction, which is why we said we would support it.

“So it’s quite clear that there can be improvements and I think in Northern Ireland in particular, there will be a lot of interest in whether we cannot have some measures which take away some of these still remaining tensions that are very obviously there.”

He also outlined a desire for the Stormont institutions to be restored immediately, saying the UK Government should act as an “honest broker”.

Starmer’s comments this evening came as British prime minister Rishi Sunak held talks with Varadkar at the European Political Community summit in Spain.

A No 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister and Taoiseach shared their concerns about the continued absence of an executive in Northern Ireland and the democratic deficit this was causing.

“The Prime Minister set out the steps the UK is taking to ensure a return to powersharing and the two agreed to stay in close contact in the coming weeks.

“The two leaders also touched on their respective positions on the issue of legacy and agreed that teams should continue to stay in touch.

“The leaders also discussed a wider set of issues, including support for Ukraine and bilateral cooperation on security and migration.

“They also welcomed the recent UK-Ireland agreement on energy as a sign of the good working relationship between the two governments.

“The leaders noted the progress of the UK and Ireland’s historic joint bid to host Euros 2028.

“They talked about the potential of using the occasion to strengthen bilateral ties and leave a positive legacy in communities, including for grassroots football in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.”

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    Mute rathminer
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:31 PM

    Hilarious to think anybody could say ‘no’. Awards heavily influence everybody’s movie decisions. Anybody who says otherwise hasn’t thought about it enough. So there.

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    Mute Adrian De Cleir
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:38 PM

    True, they influence mine, not cause I believe an awarded movie is better but because it’s far more likely to be marketed properly.

    ALSO, lets be fair, awarded movies are rarely absolutely terrible. Whereas if a movie is really really bad it defo won’t get an award.

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    Mute Bernadette Dunne
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:47 PM

    I do not take any notice of the awards I do not watch them and I do not read about them as far as I am concerned I find them BORING I love films but I will choose my own and so far I have not seen many I do not enjoy I do not need the media or anyone else tell me what film I will enjoy…..

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    Mute Matt Crosbie
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    Jan 15th 2012, 2:02 PM

    Bernadette, 100%

    25
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    Mute Roddie Cleere
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    Jan 15th 2012, 3:02 PM

    Load of crap

    8
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    Mute Pat Ryan
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    Jan 15th 2012, 6:10 PM

    Hahahaha! AND no. Frankly, I go to the cinema pretty often, and usually the movies up for awards I give a rats about have already been on, or I’ve already passed on seeing them. They occasionally influence my DVD rentals I will admit, but that option isn’t available in the poll.

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    Mute Barry O'Keeffe
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    Jan 15th 2012, 4:01 PM

    I use the following criteria.
    Q. Is Hulk Hogan in the Film?
    Yes! Rent it
    No! Don’t rent it!

    23
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    Mute Val Kearney
    Favourite Val Kearney
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    Jan 15th 2012, 4:12 PM

    Same principal can also be used for the following: Laurence Fishburn, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Scarlett Johannson, Megan Fox and the voice of Morgan Freeman.

    11
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    Mute Matt Crosbie
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:10 PM

    not in the slightest

    22
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    Mute Wujashtop
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:08 PM

    Of course they influence my decision. That spent mean a film is always worth watching. The Iron Lady is shite for example…

    15
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    Mute Wujashtop
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:08 PM

    Doesn’t

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    Mute damien o'c
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    Jan 15th 2012, 2:52 PM

    if you have a smartphone download the rotten tomatoes app. great when you’re standing in xtravision add wondering if a video is crap or not. there’s a critics rating and an audience rating and its usually fairly spot on..

    14
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    Mute Michael Sullivan
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    Jan 15th 2012, 3:49 PM

    Xtravision still exisits?!?

    14
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    Mute Eamonn Clancy
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    Jan 15th 2012, 5:00 PM

    I just go through the latest torrents and download whatever catches my eye.

    12
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    Mute Val Kearney
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    Jan 15th 2012, 1:39 PM

    Only one I can think of in recent years has been the Hurt Locker.

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    Mute Finnian Curran
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    Jan 15th 2012, 2:18 PM

    absolutely fantastic film

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    Mute Ian F.
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    Jan 15th 2012, 6:14 PM

    I was very disappointed with that film…

    7
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    Mute Ian F.
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    Jan 15th 2012, 5:12 PM

    Awards don’t influence me at all. They’re all rigged anyway and I honestly couldn’t give a crap who wins what – I watch things that are of interest to me, subject or genre wise. That whole fake red carpet and badly disguised resentment… it’s just not my thing.

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    Mute Danny D
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    Jan 15th 2012, 7:20 PM

    Overpaid actors and directors with constant need to reassurance of how talented they all are with awards and lavish parties to celebrate themselves …

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    Mute Fiachra Maolmordha Ó Raghallaigh
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    Jan 15th 2012, 4:48 PM

    Film reviews, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic are generally what I look at. Those generally give a more balanced overview than Hollywood self-back patting.

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    Mute Laura Crowe
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    Jan 15th 2012, 4:21 PM

    Imdb is your friend in this regard.

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    Mute Paul Breen
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    Jan 15th 2012, 3:46 PM

    Of course, Oscars, Palme d’Or, Berlin Film Festival. I make sure to watch the winners of all those, and so far I’ve not been disappointed.

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    Mute Shane Brehony
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    Jan 15th 2012, 9:47 PM

    Yes as most films that are nominated for these awards , Are the ones that i choose not to go and see because most are nominated films are usually muck ie . No country for old men

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    Mute John Staunton
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    Jan 15th 2012, 2:51 PM

    as always with the journal polls there are never enough options, so my answer is:yes the awards do influence my decision because they make me aware of the movies existence so will usually check the rating and reviews on imdb.com and make up my mind if its worth a go.

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    Mute Jamie Walsh
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    Jan 15th 2012, 10:22 PM

    That’d be a reaaaaaaaallllyyy long option.

    I think they’re trying to be a bit more succinct.

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    Mute John Staunton
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    Jan 16th 2012, 12:45 AM

    lol ok you got me!

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    Mute John Staunton
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    Jan 16th 2012, 12:44 AM

    some people have said the awards go to crap movies, let just look at the last few winners. I count one bad movie out of the last 12 and thats chicago, the rest are top drawer entertainment

    2010 – “The King’s Speech”
    2009 – “The Hurt Locker”
    2008 – “Slumdog Millionaire”
    2007 – “No Country for Old Men”
    2006 – “The Departed”
    2005 – “Crash”
    2004 – “Million Dollar Baby”
    2003 – “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
    2002 – “Chicago”
    2001 – “A Beautiful Mind”
    2000 – “Gladiator”
    1999 – “American Beauty”

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    Mute Micheal Nagle
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    Jan 16th 2012, 9:50 AM

    I wonder how many of the people who said ‘No’ to this poll have seen any of the movies that John has just listed?

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    Mute Proinsias Matthews
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    Jan 15th 2012, 8:41 PM

    I probably would never of seen Crash if it hadn’t got Best Picture at the Oscars but now that I think about it that’s just about it. Lots of awards go to bad movies that mainly Americans find good but don’t agree with my taste.

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    Mute Eoin Kelly
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    Jan 16th 2012, 12:29 AM

    No but the chances of seeing some boob action does!

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    Mute Gwyn Morgan
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    Jan 16th 2012, 12:19 AM

    yes. I keep a close eye on the winners, assume that they must be schmaltzy lowest-common denominator garbage and then avoid them like the plague

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    Mute Niall O'Keeffe
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    Jan 16th 2012, 10:16 AM

    I actually don’t pay any attention to whether a film has won awards or not when deciding whether to watch it… I even tend to avoid watching trailers as I find they spoil films too much… I will, however, occasionally take a sneaky peek at a film’s rottentomatoes.com rating before deciding…

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    Mute Kerryspirit Chris
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    Jan 15th 2012, 7:53 PM

    I hit NO but i believe YES for the opposite! Against blockbusters…. ;-) And to watch things and movies a bit different of mainstream !!!! ;-)

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