Sinn Fein accused of stirring sectarian tensions over call for Queen's University referendum on united Ireland

Sinn Fein has been accused of attempting to create a "cold house" for Protestants at Queen's University.

The university branch of the party has collected enough signatures for a referendum on a united Ireland.

Unionist students have been lobbying with the Student's Union and the Vice-Chancellor of Queen's in a move to prevent it.

They have claimed the referendum will create further division among students and goes against the aims of the university's constitution.

It follows a bitter row at the Student's Union last year when Sinn Fein attempted to have the poppy banned from being sold on the property.

Now the Belfast Telegraph can reveal unionists are set to go to the Equality Commission to ask them to intervene over the proposed referendum.

The referendum will be triggered within nine days of the Sinn Fein petition with at least 600 signatures being submitted to the Student's Union. Secretary of State Theresa Villiers recently ruled out a border poll being held in Northern Ireland following the Scottish referendum.

Former Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Christopher Stalford, has called on Vice-Chancellor Patrick Johnston to intervene.

An Ulster Unionist delegation held a meeting with Mr Johnston on Wednesday.

MLA Tom Elliott said they urged him to stop the referendum.

"We went there to put forward the views that this would create disharmony among the students," he said.

"We think Queen's has been subject to quite a bit of disharmony over the years. It's unfortunate that people want to create more problems, that's not what we want. It's unfortunate some people are intent on doing that."

Mr Stalford, who is a graduate of Queen's, said: "This is a flagrant and sectarian attempt by Sinn Fein Youth to re-institute a cold house environment for students who are from a unionist background.

"The university authorities, including the Vice-Chancellor, needs to intervene in this matter."

UUP Lisburn councillor Alex Redpath – also a graduate of Queen's – described the poll as "very regrettable".

"I believe this poll would be divisive and if the Students' Union adopts a position on this issue, I believe it could become a cold house for some students," he said, adding that the union has "bigger problems to tackle, such as budget cuts".

Chair of the Ulster Unionist Society at Queen's, Sky Aughey, accused Sinn Fein of being "divisive". "The Ulster Unionists have a long history of contributing positively to the Students' Union through our involvement in the Students' Union Council and in SU campaigns," she said.

"Sadly, Sinn Fein's sole objective seems to be to weaken and divide the Students' Union by focusing on divisive issues such as a border poll and intolerant campaigns like their attempt to ban the poppy."

To successfully call for a referendum, 2.5% of the student body need to sign a petition.

It is understood that Sinn Fein has so far gathered over 700 signatures.

However, a spokesman for the Students' Union said it has not yet received the petition and cannot comment until it does.

In a statement, QUB Sinn Fein called for an end to the partition of Ireland.

"A United Ireland is not just a republican pipe dream," it said.

"The aspirations of all our people, and of future generations, lie in the hands of the electorate."

Belfast Telegraph