91�ȱ�

The shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland has accused Labour of being “nervous” when it comes to advocating for the union.

Last week, the Labour government said a border poll was “not a priority” for it.

But on Sunday, the Conservative MP Alex Burghart said it was his party’s job to “champion” the four UK nations.

“If we give the separatists an inch, they will take a mile,” he told party members during a panel debate on the future of the union at the Conservative party conference.

This is the party’s first conference since the general election, which saw them suffer major electoral defeats and fall to 121 seats in the Commons.

Burghart was appointed shadow secretary of state in July by the outgoing Conservative leader Rishi Sunak.

He referenced Sinn Féin’s recent ard fheis (annual conference) on Saturday, where party President Mary Lou McDonald said she would appoint a minister for reunification if Sinn Féin gets into government in the Republic of Ireland.

And Burghart pointed to comments by former Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar last week, who said that Irish unity must be an "objective", not an "aspiration" for whoever is in charge after the next Irish election.

“This is obviously the nationalist parties thinking Labour might be a soft touch,” Burghart said on Sunday.

“The truth is Labour is much more nervous of being an open advocate for the union.“