Would a border poll actually deliver a united Ireland?

Would a border poll actually deliver a united Ireland?

From The Indo Daily by Irish Independent

September 3, 2026 · 22 min

About this episode

The episode explores whether a border poll could lead to a united Ireland amidst changing social and demographic landscapes.

Andy Burnham may be new to the job in Number 10 Downing Street, but he's already found himself at the centre of a political row over one of the most sensitive issues on this island: Irish unity. The British prime minister's unequivocal dismissal of any prospect of a border poll has reignited a long-running debate about who gets to decide Northern Ireland's future, and when that moment should come. But strip away the politics, and one question remains: in an Ireland that's changing socially and demographically, would a vote for unity actually succeed? Is there a genuine appetite for a united Ireland north and south of the Border? And what can past referendums and reunification projects across Europe tell us about the challenges ahead? On today’s Indo Daily , Tessa Fleming is joined by the Irish Independent 's John Downing to examine the question that has shaped Irish politics for generations: could a border poll actually deliver a united Ireland? The Indo Daily is part of The Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Tessa Fleming

Guest: John Downing

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Irish Independent

Places: Northern Ireland, Ireland, Number 10 Downing Street

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