Majority in Northern Ireland support ‘special status’, poll shows The majority of Northern Irish people support “special status” within the EU, according to a poll. The poll results also […]

The majority of Northern Irish people support “special status” within the EU, according to a poll.

The poll results also showed that 47.9 per cent of people would support a united Ireland in the event of a hard Brexit, a number that is far above support for uniting the island under normal circumstances.

Sinn Féin MEP Martin Anderson said the new findings reveal a deep level of concern about the “Tory/DUP anti-EU agenda”.

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The new LucidTalk poll was commissioned by the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) group in the European Parliament, of which Ms. Anderson is a member.

Reduction in rights

Other key findings were that 52.4 per cent of people believe there will be a reduction in rights as a result of Brexit; and that 75.8 per cent believe EU standards should be maintained post-Brexit.

The Derry-based MEP said: “This vote, just like that of the majority who voted to remain in the EU in last year’s referendum, is drawn from all sections of society across the North.

“The poll also shows that a majority [sic] 47.9 per cent, believe that the north should remain in the EU by becoming part of a United Ireland in the event of a ‘hard Brexit.’

“It also found that 52.4 per cent of people believe that there will be a decrease in rights as a result of Brexit.

“This shows the deep level of concern about the Tory/DUP Brexit agenda and reinforces that the DUP do not represent the views of the people of the people of the North.

Securing special status

The DUP has warned Theresa May that it will not accept any Brexit deal that separates Northern Ireland economically or politically from the rest of the UK. However, failure to find agreement with the EU could result in a “no deal” Brexit and a hard border.

Anderson added: “While of course this is an opinion poll, it also chimes with what we have been hearing in our engagements with people from all sections of society from across the north.

“What this shows is that more and more people now realise that securing special status for the north within the EU is achievable and offers the best protection for the Good Friday Agreement and citizens rights.”

This article is based on a piece that first appeared on our sister site, the Derry Journal.