The High Court in Belfast will today hear a case brought by a victims’ campaigner seeking clarity from the Northern Ireland Secretary on the circumstances in which a border poll will be held.

Raymond McCord decided to bring the case after Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire failed to set out his position in response to a letter which was sent to him on Mr McCord’s behalf in May.

Solicitor Ciaran O’Hare of McIvor Farrell Solicitors, representing Mr McCord, said his client’s case is “that it is wholly inadequate not to have a policy in respect of a matter of such importance”.

Mr O’Hare continued: “Mr McCord is bringing these proceedings to ascertain the policy on the border poll in order to bring certainty and transparency to an otherwise undefined position on a matter of fundamental constitutional legal importance.

“This is not a political endeavour, but rather, it is a case whereby Mr McCord seeks for the provision of a border poll within the Good Friday Agreement to be respected and properly considered at all times.

“It appears that as things stand, a border poll will be convened should at any time it appear likely to the Secretary of State that the majority of people would vote to leave the United Kingdom and form a United Ireland.

“My client’s case is that this issue, being of such constitutional importance to the people of Northern Ireland, should not be determined at the discretion of an individual but should be prescribed in policy for the public consumption.”