THE gap between a united Ireland and Northern Ireland remaining in the United Kingdom has narrowed in the last year, a recent poll showed.
A recent poll by LucidTalk, commissioned by the Belfast Telegraph, showed that if a referendum were to be held this week 48% of voters would opt to remain in the UK while 41% would back a united Ireland.
In comparison to the same survey last year, 49% of people said they would support staying in the union while 39% wanted Irish unity – meaning the gap has narrowed from 10% to 7% over the last 12 months.
The survey also suggested that 10% of people said they were unsure how they would vote, while 1% would abstain or spoil their ballot.
Meanwhile, almost nine in 10 nationalists (86%) want a border poll within the next decade, while three-quarters (74%) of unionists say one should never be called.
The Good Friday Agreement states a border poll should be called by the Northern Ireland Secretary when they believe the public opinion has shifted in favour of change.
However, the UK Government has historically refused to specify publicly what criteria will be applied when measuring public sentiment on the issue.
The poll showed that support for Irish unity is strongest amongst younger generations with 50% of voters under 35 wanting a united Ireland and 44% preferring the Union.
Meanwhile, 35- to 44-year-olds are also in favour of Irish unity with a 49% to 37% split.
However, older generations would still vote in favour of the Union as 55% of 45-54 year-olds are in favour compared to 36% for Irish unity while the gap widens amongst those aged over 55 to 51% to 34%.
The survey also found that 53% of all voters, and 60% of those under-35, aspire to Irish unity within the next 20 years.
Men are more likely to be in favour of remaining in the Union with 54% compared to 41% supporting Irish unity, but it is the opposite with women with 44% of them backing Irish unity with 39% preferring to keep the status quo.
Figures also showed that women are three times (15%) more unsure on how they would vote than men (5%).
The survey also indicated that there are more Catholic unionists (6%) than Protestant united Ireland supporters (4%).
Meanwhile, those of no religion are more likely to support Irish unity (40%) while a third want to remain within the UK and a quarter are unsure how they would vote.
