Gordon Brown Says Ireland Will Eventually Become United

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he believes Ireland will eventually become a united country, bringing Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland together.

In an interview with The Guardian, Brown said Irish unity made sense “in the long term,” but stressed that achieving it would be a lengthy process requiring people on both sides to reach an agreement.

“Of course, in the long term, Ireland will be united,” Brown said, adding that the key issue was whether people could come together and agree on the future of the island.

Brown’s comments carry significance because he was Chancellor in Tony Blair’s government when the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. During his time as prime minister, justice and policing powers were also transferred to Northern Ireland’s power-sharing administration.

However, Brown took a different position on Scottish independence. He said independence would not be the right path for Scotland, pointing to its strong geographical, economic, social and cultural links with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Brown also expressed support for continued oil and gas production in the North Sea while developing renewable energy. He argued that existing infrastructure and skills from the oil and gas sector could help support the transition to wind power, hydrogen and carbon capture technology.