Ex-Labour MP Diane Abbott has celebrated the end of the UK being in “touching distance”.
Abbott, who lost the Labour whip last year over racism comments, shared an article highlighting how gleeful Sinn Fein members were increasing confident about the possibility of a United Ireland.
Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill seemed to spur on the optimism as the 47-year-old looks poised to become Ulster’s first nationalist First Minister over the weekend.
Responding to Sinn Fein’s optimism, Abbott simply wrote: “Hopefully.”
The former Shadow Home Secretary is a longstanding supporter of a United Ireland
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In a separate post, the former Shadow Home Secretary added: “A return to power-sharing in Stormont is welcome. Ripping up the Protocol/Windsor Framework was just hot air.
“Now the serious task of building prosperity and unity begins. Stormont power-sharing in sight as Northern Ireland DUP accepts post-Brexit deal.”
Abbott was previously forced to distance herself from comments made about politics in on the Emerald Isle in the 1980s.
During the height of the Troubles, Abbott said: "Every defeat of the British state is a victory for all of us. A defeat in Northern Ireland would be a defeat indeed."
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Sinn Fein's deputy leader Michelle O'Neill is expected to become Ulster's first nationalist First Minister
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She was forced to clarify her choice of words ahead of the 2017 General Election, claiming: “I don't have the same hairstyle, I don't have the same views.”
Sinn Fein appears buoyed by DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s decision to agree to a new deal with the UK Government over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements.
The deal, which is yet to be seen in full, means a Stormont boycott will end and a new administration will be formed.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “In historic terms, it is within touching distance and I think that is a very exciting thing and I hope people will find that a very welcoming conversation.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was optimistic about the prospect of a United Ireland
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She added: “That will be a moment of very great significance, not simply because we haven’t had Government for so long but because it will be the first time that we will have a Sinn Féin First Minister, a nationalist First Minister.”
Despite Abbott’s comments and Sinn Fein optimism, the latest opinion polls make for grim readings about the chance of a United Ireland in the near future.
A survey conducted by the Institute of Irish Studies and Social Market Research in the autumn gave the no campaign 49 per cent, while the yes vote languished behind on 31 per cent.
However, nine per cent of respondents revealed they were undecided on how to vote.