Unionists told to stop burying heads in sand over Irish unity

Peter Robinson insisted that the “battle for the Union” was underway in a robust exchange with Sammy Wilson
Peter Robinson insisted that the “battle for the Union” was underway in a robust exchange with Sammy Wilson
WILL OLIVER/AFP/GETTY

A row between two high-profile Democratic Unionists over a poll on Irish unity has deepened.

Peter Robinson, the former party leader and first minister, and Sammy Wilson, the East Antrim MP, are at odds over Mr Robinson’s suggestion last week that Unionists should make preparations in case a border referendum were called in the future.

Mr Wilson accused him of giving encouragement to the republican cause by even countenancing the possibility of a vote. Mr Robinson responded in robust terms yesterday. While not mentioning Mr Wilson by name, he said that Unionists who maintained that the issue should not be discussed were talking “claptrap” and were guilty of “crass folly”. “These people have not just buried their heads in the sand, only the soles of