His comments follow Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald’s assertion that a Border poll will occur by 2030, emphasizing the growing relevance of Irish reunification.

In contrast, DUP leader Gavin Robinson dismissed the notion, stating there is no appetite in Northern Ireland for a “never-ending, repetitive psychodrama” about a Border poll.

Starmer met with political parties at Stormont on Monday. McDonald, whose party recently became the largest at Westminster from the North following the UK General Election, urged Starmer not to ignore the issue of Irish unity.

The Good Friday Agreement allows the UK’s Northern Ireland secretary to call a Border poll if a majority in the region supports a constitutional change.

Previously, Starmer indicated that a united Ireland is not a current priority. Recently, the UK’s new Northern Ireland secretary, Hilary Benn, said a vote on Irish unity is not imminent.

Speaking to the media, Starmer said: “This is provided for by the Good Friday Agreement, the framework is set out, and I am absolutely committed to the Good Friday Agreement. Today is a recommitment to that and to the approach and the role of the UK government in that as the honest broker. I am the Prime Minister for the whole of the UK, elected into office just a few days ago. But to reaffirm the importance of the principles of the Good Friday Agreement is part and parcel of why I am here today.”

McDonald stated last week’s election results highlight significant changes. She said, “We have reiterated our view to the Prime Minister that it is foolhardy to bury your head in the sand on this question. We have reminded him that the provision for referendums is at the very heart of the Good Friday Agreement. Yes, we need to see progress on this, yes we need if people talk about conditions for a referendum, let’s have clarity on what is meant by that. This is a question that needs to be addressed by all of us.”

When asked if she still aims for a unity referendum by 2030, McDonald confirmed, “Yes, yes it is.” She added that discussions with the British government should clarify their conditions for a referendum and stressed the growing prominence of reunification in Irish political discourse.

Robinson scoffed at the 2030 timeline, saying, “We have heard plenty like that before and we’re still waiting.” He added, “Keir Starmer is a unionist, Keir Starmer is somebody who has indicated a Border poll is not on the horizon. Anybody who studies the outcome of the election on Thursday will see that the combined unionist vote still outstrips the combined nationalist vote. There is no mood for constitutional change, but more than that, there is no mood for engaging in this never-ending, repetitive psychodrama when it is not where the people are.”