London and Dublin play down Sinn Fein's calls for Irish unification

The British and Irish governments played down Sinn Fein's calls for Irish unification. London and Dublin have said that Northern Ireland's new autonomous government can restore stability and faith in the region.
British Prime Minister Sunack said Northern Ireland's place in the UK was secure and called on the Stormont executive, led by Michelle O'Neill, the first nationalist first minister, to focus on core issues , and not on redrawing borders, the Guardian reported.
"It's not about constitutional change, it's about getting the day-to-day jobs that matter to people going," Sunak said after a meeting with executive ministers, party leaders and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar at Stormont.
Varadkar refused to answer a question about whether he expected a united Ireland in his lifetime.
"This is not a question that needs to be answered today. The priority for any new executive in any government in any country must be the day-to-day care of the people," the Irish prime minister said.
A Downing Street spokesman said the two leaders agreed that a stable, effective and successful Northern Ireland would be of huge benefit to British-Irish relations and that they expected to "remain in close contact".
Nevertheless, tensions between the two sides remained evident. Sunak reiterated his "regret" that Dublin had taken legal action against UK policy on riot-related crime. Varadkar said the UK government's deal, which pushed Unionists back to Stormont with changes to post-Brexit trade arrangements, contained "negative language" about the All-Ireland economy.
Peter Hain, who was Northern Ireland's first minister from 2005 to 2007, said he was "surprised" the two leaders had not held a press conference, adding that it was crucial for heads of government to be seen that they have a close working relationship.
Following her meeting with Sunak, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald hinted at the party's ambition to hold a referendum on a united Ireland within 10 years.
"Change is everywhere and must be managed," said McDonald./BGNES