A Westminster proposal by DUP MP Ian Paisley to require a "super-majority" to permit UK constitutional change in future referendums has been dismissed as a "stunt".
The North Antrim MP brought forward to Parliament the "Referendums (Supermajority) Bill", according to the House of Commons order paper on Tuesday.
It was described as a "bill to require a super-majority of votes in favour of a proposal for constitutional change on which a referendum is being held in order for it to be decided in the affirmative".
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A super-majority vote stipulates that a higher percentage is required than a simple majority of 51% for a proposal to be passed.
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 said: "This is essentially an exercise in trolling from an MP who has decided against being a serious political actor.
"The Good Friday Agreement is clear, including the principles of consent, of parity of esteem and on the agreed mechanism for any future change in the constitutional status.
"The SDLP is dedicated to the creation of a new Ireland, through planning and by consent and as a decision for the people in all their diversity.
"We aim for the highest possible endorsement and support for a new Ireland but remind the proposer of this stunt that all votes are equal."
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."
The DUP has been approached for comment.
Earlier, a leading academic expressed concern about Mr Paisley's proposals.
Brendan O'Leary, a professor of political science at the University of Pensylvania, told BBC Talkback: "I think you have to be very careful about unwinding existing treaties and constitutional agreements.
"The Good Friday Agreement would not have been made, let alone endorsed north and south, if there had been a locking in of the Union in the manner that Ian Paisley proposes."
He added: "That doesn't mean that one shouldn't try to get the largest feasible consensus for any significant constitutional change.
"But the simple-majority rule for the transfer of sovereignty was carefully negotiated and carefully entrenched in the agreement, and now is not the time in my view to change it."
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