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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says she will demand a referendum on Irish unity in her first phone call with Sir Keir Starmer if she wins Ireland’s general election.

In the second of our leader interviews, she told Sky News she would also be able to strike the right balance in dealings with Donald Trump because women “naturally multitask.”

Ms McDonald, who describes Friday’s poll as “an historic opportunity” to elect the first female taoiseach (prime minister), expects a vote on Irish reunification to take place by 2030.

‘The central question’

She said: “I think that the process of reunification has to be at the heart of government.

“Obviously, the other issues around housing and healthcare, all the bread-and-butter issues… are critically important.

“But the central question for all of us now is what does Ireland look like in five years’ time, in 10 years’ time?

“I believe that we will have the referendums in this decade. I think that is a necessary thing.”

Party’s record attempt to win election

Sinn Fein won the popular vote in the last general election, but slipped in the polls over the last year, largely due to a disconnect with its base over immigration.

With the latest polling indicating some recovery, the party is fielding a record 71 candidates this time in the hope of replacing the centre-right Fine Gael/Fianna Fail coalition.

Watch the full interview on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from 7pm. 

Sky News has also interviewed the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail leaders.