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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Brendan Hughes

DUP MP Ian Paisley's 'super-majority' bill to be debated on St Patrick's Day

DUP MP Ian Paisley's Westminster bill which seeks to require a "super-majority" in future UK referendums is set to be debated on St Patrick's Day.

The Referendums (Supermajority) Bill has been listed for its second reading in the House of Commons on March 17.

It will be the first opportunity for MPs to debate the main principles of the bill, which aims to require a "super-majority" to permit UK constitutional change in future referendums.

Read more: DUP MP Ian Paisley's bid for 'super-majority' in future referendums dismissed as 'stunt'

A super-majority vote stipulates that a higher percentage is required than a simple majority of 51% for a proposal to be passed.

The Private Member's Bill was dismissed as a "stunt" by other Stormont parties when it was introduced to Parliament by Mr Paisley last November.

The North Antrim MP denied his proposed legislation would be "changing the goalposts" for any future border poll on a united Ireland.

He argued the 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 also said he had "reflected" upon the narrow majority of the 2016 EU referendum and "experienced the acrimony that has since flown from then".

It had been expected the bill may have been debated in Parliament last month but it has now been listed for St Patrick's Day.

At the end of the debate, MPs decide whether the bill should be given its second reading, meaning it can proceed to the next stage.

It is possible for a bill to have a second reading with no debate if MPs agree to its progress.

Last year Mr Paisley said his bill was aimed at ensuring "stability".

He told the BBC's Nolan Show: "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."

The bill was dismissed as a "stunt" last year by the Alliance Party and the SDLP, while Sinn Féin accused the DUP of "having trouble respecting democracy".

SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna 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.

Ms Hanna added: "This is essentially an exercise in trolling from an MP who has decided against being a serious political actor."

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