A LABOUR minister has been accused of “burying his head in the sand” over an Irish border poll.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said a poll for a united Ireland is a “long way off” in an appearance on the Stormont Sources podcast this week.

Benn said he has just one document in his possession which relates to a border poll, and that is the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (Image: Ben Whitley / PA)

The landmark peace deal agreed in 1998 says that it is for the secretary of state to call a border poll if at any time it appears likely that a majority of those voting would vote for constitutional change.

“Those who drafted the Good Friday Agreement weighed every single word with enormous care,” he said.

“When people say there must be a border

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