Northern Ireland ‘not economically viable’

Posted by Jim on July 14, 2025

Mary Lou McDonald says Northern Ireland ‘not economically viable’ as a territory as she calls for border poll on British TV

The Sinn Féin leader appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday

Mary Lou McDonald said the children are being failed

Mary Lou McDonald made the comments during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Monday.

By Mark Robinson

July 14, 2025 at 10:44am BST

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said that the north was “not economically viable” as a territory and put its financial struggles down to partition as she called for a border poll during an appearance on British TV.

Ms McDonald made the comments in an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Monday, where she made the case for a referendum in the next five years.

The TD for Dublin Central’s appearance on the show comes amid growing speculation that she is gearing up for a potential presidential run.

While initially ruling herself out of this year’s presidential election, last week she said that the party’s candidacy was “a moving picture”.

On Monday, presenter Richard Madeley asked the Sinn Féin leader why she was advocating for reunification when the north was economically “running at a loss”.

“Why do you want Northern Ireland still so badly? Because, economically, I think it’s fair to say it’s close to being a basket case at the moment,” he said.

“This country pays it a huge amount in terms of subsidies to Ulster – far more than we get back.”

Ms McDonald said that the reason for the north’s consistent economic difficulties was down to partition.

“It’s six counties of the historic nine-county province of Ulster, it’s cut off from its natural political, social and economic hinterland,” she responded.

“Since the peace agreement was signed in 1998, the value of the all-Ireland economy has multiplied six-fold.

“The natural economic activity for a small island like Ireland is the entire island – it makes no sense to partition.”

Ms McDonald added that it had been 27 years since the Good Friday Agreement and that reunification was the “next chapter”.

“I think we have made enormous strides, all of us, and I think Ireland and Britain and all the political leaders and the people deserve great credit for that,” she said.

“Now we’re at a point where we say, ‘What’s the next chapter?’.

“For us, logically, in economic terms, in social terms, in democratic terms, Irish unity makes sense.”