Former DUP First Minister Arlene Foster attacks mainstream media for 'pushing border poll narrative' in wake of Sinn Fein success in council elections

Arlene Foster has criticised the mainstream media for, in her eyes, pushing a narrative that the recent election heralds a coming border poll.
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By Adam Kula
Published 31st May 2023, 12:39 BST
Updated 31st May 2023, 13:20 BST

The former DUP leader (who now sits in the House of Lords and is unaffiliated to any party) said unionists should confident about constitutional stability, and not be “subsumed by the PR” of pro-united-Irelanders.

Her words echo those of Ian Paisley to the News Letter just a couple of days ago (see link below).

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Baroness Foster (who today works as a presenter for conservative-tilting TV channel GB News) was asked about the possibility of a single unionist party, uniting DUP and UUP together.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 18/4/2019: DUP Leader Arlene Foster MLA at the DUP local government manifesto launch at the Kingspan Stadium in BelfastPACEMAKER BELFAST 18/4/2019: DUP Leader Arlene Foster MLA at the DUP local government manifesto launch at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast
PACEMAKER BELFAST 18/4/2019: DUP Leader Arlene Foster MLA at the DUP local government manifesto launch at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast

“That's a matter for the leadership,” she replied.

"I think probably the electorate would like to see some movement towards unionism working closer together – I certainly would.”

She then added: “What is quite difficult to deal with is the fact most of the mainstream media – not including the News Letter in this at all – are somehow interpreting the local council elections to mean there's going to be a border poll.

"But that's not what the local election results tell us at all.

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"If you look at the figures in terms of those who'd be clearly in favour of a United Ireland that's not the case, and there isn't the evidence for a border poll, but yet they take abolutely everything and use it in that respect.”

The results of the election show that Sinn Fein won 31% of all seats, and the SDLP won just over 8% (although the proportion of first-preference votes they won was higher, see the link below).

• Election 2023: Counting ends! Check out the headline figures and results where you live as Sinn Fein rejoice in being biggest party on councils

Pressed on the idea of a unified unionist party, Baroness Foster said: “For me the union has always been the most impportant thing and always will be because it's what determines our way of life.

"That's something the leadership of both parties I'm sure are looking at and talking about at the moment.

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"But I do think that the way in which people use every opportunity to talk about a border poll is there to cause dismay and sap the confidence of unionists, and unionists shouldn't allow that to happen.

"They should be positive about the Union and have confidence in the Union.

"I know it's difficult when faced with a bombardment of people telling you a united Ireland is around the corner: it's not! And I'm very confident about that.

"People shouldn't be subsumed by the PR of nationalism and republicanism.”

More from this reporter:

• 'Will this society ever get a moral compass?' Pressure increases on John Finucane over upcoming 'South Armagh Volunteers Commemoration'

• Ian Paisley: We are nowhere near the risk of a border poll - but if one ever happened there should be a turnout quota and supermajority