A young loyalist has said people from unionist backgrounds taking part in discussions about a united Ireland is an "extremely positive thing" and "should be encouraged".
Joel Keys still "firmly" wants Northern Ireland to remain in the United Kingdom but said he would be a "fool" to rule out his opinion potentially changing in future.
The activist, who gained prominence for his opposition to Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol, has been taking part in an SDLP forum discussing Irish unity.
Read more: SDLP leader Colum Eastwood: Unionists are engaging with our forum on Irish unity
The New Ireland Commission was set up by the party to consider future constitutional arrangements on the island.
Mr Keys, from South Belfast, said: "I want to hear why someone would support a united Ireland. I want to explain to them why I don't.
"I want to have that clash, and then I want to settle somewhere in between hopefully at the end of that conversation."
Mr Keys said he cannot foresee his unionist beliefs changing but he agrees "a scary amount" with some arguments for Irish unity.
He told Belfast Live: "I ask people, 'Why do you want a new country?' They give me their reasons. Some of the reasons are very valid. Some of the reasons I agree with a scary amount.
"The difference is I would say, 'Well, we can fight that problem and we can do it without leaving the UK.'"
Mr Keys described contending with "abuse" online from some unionists for engaging in such discussions, but he said others "in real life" are supportive.
He said: "I would argue that engaging with people who you disagree with and engaging in that exact conversation is the only way that you're going to convince anyone that isn't currently a unionist or a loyalist to become one.
"You're not going to convince anyone if you only speak to the people who already agree with you. So I think it's more than just OK for unionists and loyalists to engage and talk about a united Ireland, but I think it's an extremely positive thing, and I think it should be encouraged.
"And even if the engagement is to say that you don't agree with it, or that you never want to vote for it, and you want to articulate the reasons why, do it - do that. That is engagement.
"That will give people who support a united Ireland a good understanding of where we're at so that if they do ever win a border poll, at least then our concerns can be catered for."
Mr Keys gained prominence in 2021 when aged 19 he warned a Westminster committee of the potential of loyalist violence to oppose Irish Sea trade barriers resulting from the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The activist took part in a New Ireland Commission discussion at the SDLP's annual conference in Derry at the weekend.
He also joined a meeting of young people in North Belfast in February organised by the commission.
Mr Keys said Conor Houston, the SDLP's director of policy and engagement, has "done a lot of work meeting young people" in unionist communities.
Speaking after the commission event on Saturday, he added: "He has come down and gave them more time than a lot of other people would. And he's really built up this level of trust.
"So it kind of gave me the confidence that I needed to have this conversation and have faith that it was in good faith, and truly just an exploration of each other's ideas."
In a pre-conference interview, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood told Belfast Live that unionists have been engaging in "quiet conversations" with the New Ireland Commission for the past 18 months.
The Foyle MP said his party is "best placed" to make the arguments for a united Ireland.
READ NEXT:
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood: Unionists are engaging with our forum on Irish unity
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara: We're not just Alliance with a greener message
Outgoing MLA launches new website as a keynote speaker and coach
MLAs claim almost £8m in expenses during collapse of Stormont power-sharing
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
