If Osborne can discuss a United Ireland, why can't the government?

A former senior Tory's assessment that the North was "slowly becoming part of United Ireland" has prompted Aontú's leader to have a swipe at the government.

Former British chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne made his comments in the London Evening Standard, the conservative leaning publication of which he is now editor.

“By unleashing English nationalism," wrote Osborne, "Brexit has made the future of the UK the central political issue of the coming decade. Northern Ireland is already heading for the exit door.

“By remaining in the EU single market, it is for all economic intents and purposes now slowly becoming part of a united Ireland. Its prosperity now depends on its relationship with Dublin (and Brussels), not London. The politics will follow.”

In light of Mr Osborne's comments, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín has called on FF and FG to start to prepare for a United Ireland.

“Partition costs," said the former Sinn Féin TD. “Partition leaves Ireland massively exposed. Covid-19 has proved that beyond a doubt. Our inability to tackle Covid in a united manner has led to significant increase in Covid cases, ill health and death. Anyone doubting this should look at the counties that have consistently had the highest incidents of the illness. The border counties have unfortunately been top of this list for months. Each time we in Aontú ask the Government to secure airports, the lack of cooperation with the north is given as an excuse not to do it.”

Deputy Tóibín concluded: “These reasons and the fact that there is a growing United Ireland wave in the North demand that the southern political establishment take their heads out of the sand and start to prepare for this eventuality. What does it say about FF, FG and the Greens that the former Tory Chancellor, George Osborne can speak openly about this pivotal issue in Ireland’s future yet the Irish political establishment can't?"