How would a Labour government handle Northern Ireland? | The New Statesman podcast

As the UK government and the DUP appear likely to break their Brexit impasse with a new deal, a listener asks what Labour would do differently in Northern Ireland.
Subscribe here: / @newstatesman
For two years, the DUP has been boycotting power sharing in Stormont in opposition to post-Brexit trade rules. Now the UK government has published a deal which would reduce checks and paperwork on goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which could lead to the return of devolution within days.
Anoosh Chakelian, Rachel Cunliffe and Freddie Hayward answer a listener question about how Labour would approach Northern Ireland and what that would mean for the future of the Union.
--
The New Statesman podcast is now on KZbin. Anoosh Chakelian and New Statesman colleagues including political editor Andrew Marr discuss the latest in UK politics news, helping you understand the forces shaping British politics today.
Watch all the latest episodes of the New Statesman podcast here: • The New Statesman Podcast
--
The New Statesman brings you unrivalled analysis of of the latest UK and international politics. On our KZbin channel you’ll find insight on the top news and global current affairs stories, as well as insightful interviews with politicians, advisers and leading political thinkers, to help you understand the political and economic forces shaping the world.
With regular contributions from our writers including Political Editor Andrew Marr and Anoosh Chakelian - host of the New Statesman podcast - we’ll help you understand the world of politics and global affairs from Westminster to Washington and beyond.
Subscribe on KZbin: / @newstatesman
Sign up to Morning Call, the daily UK politics newsletter from the New Statesman: morningcall.substack.com
Subscribe to the New Statesman from just £1 per week: www.newstatesman.com/podcasto...

[@davidwebb4904]

Same as the Tories are. Labour are just Tories wearing a different colored dress

[@cw8867]

Yep all left wing loons now

[@connclissmann6514]

Handle the DUP? I suspect Labour would be looking for an extra long barge pole. My guess is that Labour will have so much to do in Britain, NI will not be high on the radar.

[@NSBarnett]

Why would a border poll (a.k.a. a reunification referendum?) be a problem? If it's a resounding YES, England (yes, England) must let NI go. If it's a no, it's as you were for another few years. I suspect the DUP would prefer the poll sooner rather than later, since the long-term drift is towards YES, but it's probably some way away just yet.

[@sheenayoung6141]

Why don't you go to N Ireland and explain that idea to the people, I'm sure that you would be made very welcome.😂

[@logangallagher7050]

I think if you asked people in England do they want northern Ireland they would say no, just like we would vote for a independent Scotland. ENGLAND subsidise Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and it's massively unfair to the people of England. So ask us for once if we want to carry on funding this leeching union.

[@sheenayoung6141]

@@logangallagher7050 I guess that history is not your strength, maybe you should read about the actual history, not the propaganda of Britain, then maybe you just might understand, why your comment is so offensive to all the people and their families, who have sacrificed so much, including their lives, defending Great Britain and Northern Ireland, because none of them were doing it for the money, they were defending Britain and Ireland, from the fascism and communism that threatened their freedom, which includes yours, and it's really sad that this modern generation have no respect for our ancestors or their sacrifice, you just don't know how lucky you are, can you tell me how much money do you think that this modern generation, should pay for the privilege of living in a free and democratic country.

[@sheenayoung6141]

Why oh why KZbin are you afraid of free speech

[@NSBarnett]

​@@sheenayoung6141 and ​ @logangallagher7050 But if you asked the people in Scotland and NI today, do they want to leave the UK, they'd probably say no. We need to rejoin the EU and wait for ever closer union. But why is an NI border poll a problem, Sheena?

[@davidleatham5173]

Tell the DUP that they are yesterday's news and they will be consigned to the dustbin of history if they don't change.

[@cw8867]

I find it astonishing that people in the comments are claiming the labour party to be right wing lol The tory party isnt even right wing anymore... its centre left 😂 Kier starmer couldn't even say what a woman is... 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@JohnTreacy-ix3wr]

If the Unionists are so 'Brtish' how come they don't move to Britain?

[@danielmcfarland6116]

Unionists are more British than 60 percent of the British people population now, how could they even if they were inclined to move to Britain yous cant even house your own people or even ex servicemen and women, theres so many boats crossing the channel that your cities are running out of hotels to put them up in ,(but then British citizens dont mater)so your talking crap

[@christopherodonoghue3858]

All this trauma, infighting and misery just to get back together the place we were before Brexit ever happened.

[@Frithogar]

The DUP seems to have done sterling work in bringing a united Ireland to "within touching distance."

[@stephenhorslen6075]

Thats the problem, The DUP were the big player when the GFA was done yet now with SF are in the box seat both north and looking stronger in the south .

[@colincampbell4261]

Only 30% want a UI . ProvoSF always forget that.

[@anniegrath1417]

@@colincampbell4261That’s what UVF supporters always say!

[@matt_cummins28]

Thank you, one of the best explanations I've heard of the new trading relations "arrived at" in this agreement. "We kinda grew up a bit.." brilliant. This was an excellent discussion - prompted by an excellent question. It's a terrible thing to have to say, really, but it's very rare to get informed, intelligent discussion of crucial issues like this. Thanks all.

[@timseytiger9280]

That woman on the left saying that the Windsor agreement was a big achievement, clearly doesn't have a clue what she's talking about. The EU offered the deal a year before, but Johnson wasn't interested, all the UK had to do was say yes. Also, NI has no input in EU affairs like she says. They can comment but cannot change anything.

[@biocapsule7311]

While Brexiteers are completely clueless about anything Brexit. Most casual Remainers are somewhat clueless about it as well. They know it's bad... just not really know how bad. They are however still a lot better then conservatives.

[@punditgi]

The lovely Anoosh and her sensible commentary! ❤🎉😊

[@andybrice2711]

I'm increasingly impressed by the analysis from this podcast. Although they lean Left, they really seem to understand a broad range of political ideologies, and are willing to apply the Principle of Charity when trying to make sense of people's decisions.

[@AnkleMuncher]

Sure we want that woke lefty? we already got that now. How about Starmer goes and runs a tea party because that is all they are good for.

[@unionjackjackson4352]

They’ll hand it over to the Eu.

[@bigbang7897]

There can be constitutional guarantee that N Ireland will remain in the UK, under the Good Friday agreement N Ireland will remain in the UK until such time that the majority of the people of the North say otherwise and that time is looking very short.

[@joycegibbs5267]

are they made. Have they seen how authoritarian Southern Ireland has become?

[@robertoleary5470]

@@joycegibbs5267the republic isn’t authoritarian

[@admirald2680]

Wonderful. Fascinating peak at 1980s nibyisim

[@beachcomber1able]

I can see the wheels coming off that deal in a spectacular fashion before long. 😢

[@colincampbell4261]

Yeah - bring in joint rule! GFA allows for that if a stalemate occurs.

[@bonnieo910]

Don’t ask Starmer, he still has no idea what his agenda is.

[@robertgannon-cx2mm]

Blair hasn't told him what it is yet!!

[@arthurbirkin2041]

put in more immigrants same as main land britain

[@strangelee4400]

They would give it away.

[@Susan-ww4uq]

With meetings snd cheque books.

[@Danders1657]

Starmer said he prefers Davos,WEF to the British parliament, vote reform.

[@gottmituns813]

It's time for reunification!

[@albin2232]

Labour would say words.

[@ulicadluga]

3:40 - the problem with "symbolic" politics is that it sends a negative message to another part of tye community!

[@mostlyindica]

This "Labour" party in power wont be any different to all the other right wing governments we've had

[@jimmypimps2734]

What right wing governments ? they are all radical left

[@cw8867]

I find it astonishing that people think this tory government or a potential Labour government is right wing.. lol Which policy exactly are right wing? This is the furthest left we have ever been 😂

[@sheenayoung6141]

Right-wing?😂

[@joycegibbs5267]

@@cw8867 I know. These people are insane !!!!

[@joycegibbs5267]

RIGHT WING 🤣🤣🤣 Man, I dread to think what you think is left wing !!!!

[@Jenny-xb9zm]

Labour your way to being a Sir, I don't think so. What has gone wrong...

[@DrLogical987]

The Brexiteers have managed a triumph of international diplomacy. Replace "Made in Britain" labels with "Not (fit) for EU (consumption)" Job done.

[@joycegibbs5267]

that's their loss.

[@user-ln3lh2pz8h]

God knows. Starmar is mum on virtually.....everything. We'll see when it happens.

[@iaprm]

Same as they handle themselves. Mess.

[@patrickmcardle4771]

We have lost N 🇮🇪 already, may as wel admit it and get on with life.❤😂

[@danielmcfarland6116]

1 the eu should have no say in northern Ireland 2 the republic should have no say in our political agenda 3 i don't think northern Ireland would go willingly for an all Republican Ireland, they need to stop this threat to the unionist of were within reach of an all Ireland,

[@bobbadham261]

A labour Govt wld be a re-run of brandons America in Britain like it ain't bad enuf??

[@bigdaz7272]

United Ireland. Can't be too much longer now :)

[@xavi239]

I have a couple of questions. What is the Labour plan for the north of England? How would Labour revitalise the high street shops and businesses? Would Labour get rid of the tax on online incomes?

[@joycegibbs5267]

probably not much. They all promise and never deliver. Plus, we're skint !

[@xavi239]

@@joycegibbs5267 If Labour can fix our housing, rebuild our education system, and lower interest rates, then the UK would be on a good path to reinventing and improving our economic trajectory compared to our European counterparts.

[@ferdinandimposter691]

The last thing Sinn Fein want is a functioning Stormont as it will settle the growing 'middle ground' NI voters into a state of normality. The DUP would be best advised to dig in and create those conditons by doing the boring regional politics thing very well. If the Unionist voters welcomed the new deal it would, in time force SF to find another reason to crash the Assembly. Welcome to the backwards world of NI politics 😂

[@matpk]

Scotland Wales and England are welcome to join the EU ❤😂🎉 to improve economy 😮😅😊

[@libtardsrus7823]

A Labour government will destroy what's left of anything

[@ulicadluga]

Stuffing more money into the DUP. This arrangement won't work. It'll cost the rest of the UK even more ("not for sale in the EU" labels). It is also creating a dangerous situation in terms of the "Good Friday Agreement/Belfast Atreement".

[@xinma6034]

Hahah rule by any of them mean no hope anyway

[@eugo5578]

labour ffs vote reform

[@stringer-ik1pc]

Well sir kier is used to representing terrorists against the british government. 😂😂😂

[@joycegibbs5267]

give it over to the EU, just like the Conservatives have already !!

[@timwoodger7896]

The same as the Tory’s only better 😮 that’s Keith’s go to answer. I’m not sure what that means but he is a known liar and tbh anything could happen 😂

[@TouringTony]

The big difference between Scotland and NI is that Scotland physically borders England and there's strong commonality. Whereas NI is detached and more like a colony. Ireland being reunified would therefore be good for GB whereas losing Scotland would destroy it

[@joycegibbs5267]

NI is more loyal and patriotic than people living in England. Would be a betrayal but it's up to them. Looking at the authoritarian way Southern Ireland is going though, they should be careful IMO.

[@AnkleMuncher]

Tommy Robinson for Prime Minister

[@richardmoncrieff1522]

The same as they would any other situations they wouldn't give one iota as long as they were getting there own agenda's met. The inhuman leader who proposes to be a human rights lawyer will say nothing whilst witnessing genocides therfore being complicit in said genocide will just keep taking

[@noneofyourbussiness329]

i will tell y'all a joke: who's more naive, a tory or a labour voter? the answer is both😂