NI political parties face off in BBC TV debate

The five politicians were also asked about the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.

Nationalist parties Sinn Féin and the SDLP are in favour of Irish unity, while unionist parties the DUP and UUP are among those who advocate Northern Ireland remaining in the union.

Mr Eastwood described a united Ireland as a “very attractive proposition” and that planning for a border poll should happen now.

Alliance leader Naomi Long defended her party’s stance to remain neutral on the issue, saying no one was “waking up in a sweat at night over the border” and that the focus needs to be on fixing problems in Northern Ireland before talk turns to Irish unity.

Mr Robinson said he accepts that Northern Ireland is “chronically underfunded” by Westminster, but says it does “benefit from being part of the fifth largest economy in the world”, citing the cost of healthcare in the Republic of Ireland.

While Mr Butler said politicians should make Northern Ireland work so it has a more prosperous future for all.

On the topic of conflict in the Middle East, Sinn Fein’s Chris Hazzard was asked if his party would visit the White House next year if President Biden is re-elected and the Israel-Gaza conflict is ongoing.

The party faced criticism from some of its supporters this year when it chose to attend events in Washington DC, but Mr Hazzard said Sinn Fein “will continue to go wherever we need to go to be the voice of the Palestinian people where their voice needs to be heard”.