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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent

Prospect of Irish unification referendum remains remote despite Sinn Féin gains

The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, with the Northern Ireland secretary, Hilary Benn (right), meeting the president of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald,  and Northern Ireland's first minister Michelle O'Neill (left)
The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, with the Northern Ireland secretary, Hilary Benn (right), meeting the president of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, and Northern Ireland's first minister, Michelle O'Neill (left), at Stormont in Belfast. Photograph: Simon Dawson/10 Downing Street/EPA

Sinn Féin has completed a historic hat-trick for Irish nationalism by becoming Northern Ireland’s biggest party in local government, the Stormont assembly and Westminster.

On 4 July it increased its majorities in several constituencies and whittled those of opponents, teeing up potential gains in the next general election. Meanwhile, the party’s vice-president, Michelle O’Neill, has made history as the first nationalist first minister.

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