DUP MP Ian Paisley has denied his Westminster bid to require a "super-majority" in future UK referendums is "changing the goalposts" for a border poll on a united Ireland.
Mr Paisley argued his bill echoes the sentiments of nationalist leaders who have said a majority significantly above "50% plus one" would be preferable in an Irish unity vote to ensure "stability".
The Brexit-backing MP said he had "reflected" upon the narrow majority of the 2016 EU referendum and "experienced the acrimony that has since flown from then".
Read more: DUP MP Ian Paisley's bid for 'super-majority' in future referendums dismissed as 'stunt'
Mr Paisley on Tuesday brought to Parliament the "Referendums (Supermajority) Bill", which aims to require a "super-majority" to permit UK constitutional change in future referendums.
A super-majority vote stipulates that a higher percentage is required than a simple majority of 51% for a proposal to be passed.
The bill has been dismissed as a "stunt" by the Alliance Party and the SDLP, while Sinn Fein accused the DUP of "having trouble respecting democracy".
But Mr Paisley told the BBC's Nolan Show: "This is about making sure that the law recognises that what is important is stability.
"I mean I've heard since 2016, since the referenda on Brexit, that this has caused instability because it was such a narrow majority across the whole of the UK.
"So what we're trying to say is well, let's pick that up, let's learn from that, and let's say that in the future if we're going to decide our politics by way of referenda, let's make sure that we have protections and balances that a weighted majority would show that there is overwhelming consent.
"Because our law also calls for consent, and to have consent means therefore that you have to have overwhelming support, just not a simple majority of 50% plus one."
The North Antrim MP added: "It's not about changing the goalposts at all.
"It's about saying that if there is going to be a referenda in Scotland or in Northern Ireland that Parliament should debate this and should importantly set the parameters and the mechanism of what should be in place.
"Those who are howling about it should check what nationalists have been saying about this for the last number of years, and should also check the historical record of what was done in previous referenda."
In 2016 the UK voted to leave the European Union by 52% to 48%. Leave won the majority of votes in England and Wales, but a majority in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted Remain.
On the Brexit vote, Mr Paisley said: "I've reflected upon that, I've listened to people's arguments. I've also experienced the acrimony that has since flown from then and I've said well, let's learn from our experience.
"History is about learning from the past and not repeating issues from the past that have caused problems, and let's pick this issue up and say well, how would we solve that from happening in future in a future referenda."
Asked if DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson knew about the bill and supports it, Mr Paisley said: "This has been endorsed by the party.
"I mean, I brought this forward. I mean as you can see, the statements that have gone out from the party from HQ, I think that's just a red herring."
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna described Mr Paisley's move as a "stunt".
She said the constitutional future of Northern Ireland will be decided by the mechanisms contained within the Good Friday Agreement, which would allow for a simple majority in any border poll on Irish unity.
Ms Hanna added: "This is essentially an exercise in trolling from an MP who has decided against being a serious political actor."
Sinn Féin South Down MP Chris Hazzard said: "It's clear that the DUP are having trouble respecting democracy.
"Not content with refusing to accept the outcome of May's Assembly election because they didn't like the result, they now want the law changed to give unionism a veto over the rest of us in a democratic referendum on our constitutional future."
Alliance Party MP Stephen Farry called it a "stunt" and said it would "go absolutely nowhere".
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