Newly Released Records Reveal Tensions Over Northern Ireland Border Poll Proposal

Documents from the Irish National Archives highlight disputes over David Trimble's 2002 push for a border poll and criticisms of proposed peace talk mediators.

• David Trimble's 2002 campaign to hold a Northern Ireland border poll alongside Assembly elections faced strong opposition from the Irish government and the SDLP.
• Tony Blair reportedly dismissed Trimble's proposal, with his chief of staff saying Blair told Trimble to 'get lost' over the idea.
• Irish officials described the timing of the proposed poll as potentially 'deeply polarising and destabilising,' with concerns it would inflame sectarian tensions.
• Newly declassified documents also reveal Irish criticism of potential mediators for peace talks, including allegations of ineffectiveness and problematic temperaments.
• The records underscore ongoing debates about the conditions under which a border poll on Irish unification might be triggered under the Good Friday Agreement.

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