A VICTIMS' campaigner has lost his legal battle to have the British Government compelled to put in place a policy for holding a border poll in Northern Ireland.
Lawyers for Raymond McCord claimed the current criteria for calling a referendum on the question of Irish unity lacks transparency.
But the Court of Appeal yesterday upheld a decision that it should be left to the Secretary of State to make a decision on the appropriate circumstances.
Lord Justice Stephens ruled that the 1998 Northern Ireland Act "contains no express duty to publish a policy as to when or in what circumstances it is in the public interest to
hold a border poll".
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement the Secretary of State can call a vote if he believes a majority of people in the region no longer want to remain part of the UK.
In June 2018 a High Court judge held there was no legal obligation to have a defined criteria in place.
Mr McCord appealed that determination.
The Belfast man's lawyers contended that no-one currently knows what the criteria is for convening a border poll - a position they alleged is unlawful.
They claimed an unconstitutional situation has developed where the Secretary of State has simply opted to maintain the status quo.
Mr McCord stressed his aim was to "take orange and green sectarian politics and opinions out of a border poll".
During the hearing his legal team contended that a policy is now required to bring certainty to the issue.
However, appeal judges rejected all grounds of challenge, including arguments that the current situation is unreasonable.
Lord Justice Stephens said it was a matter for the Secretary of State to decide which matters should be taken into or left out of account.
