Prime Minister Andy Burnham's comment during his first visit to Northern Ireland that a border poll is "off the table" has provoked strong reactions across the political spectrum.

Mr Burnham made the remark on Thursday when asked about the prospect of a referendum on Irish unity, saying: "I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table."

He linked his stance to concerns about division following the Brexit and Scottish independence referendums, saying such votes create rifts that take a long time to heal and distract from current challenges like cost-of-living pressures and public service delivery.

The comments drew immediate criticism from nationalist politicians. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald described the remarks as divisive, ill-informed, reckless and totally unacceptable, saying they fly in the face of the Good Friday Agreement and send a dangerous message to some within unionism.

Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Pat Cullen said the comments showed how out of touch Westminster is, adding that the right of people on the island to determine their own future is enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement and is not for the British Prime Minister to decide.

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the Good Friday Agreement makes clear the right to pursue constitutional change and that it cannot be off the table, though she also described the Prime Minister's language as clumsy.

Unionist politicians welcomed the remarks. DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said she welcomed the clear rejection of Sinn Fein's divisive border poll campaign, and DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the comments had put to bed nonsense speculation about a unity poll.

TUV leader Jim Allister said there is no basis to call a poll on breaking up the United Kingdom, citing polling evidence and also pointing to reports that the Republic of Ireland requested naval assistance from the UK and France during its EU presidency, which he said exposed the folly of a united Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant later said the Prime Minister's comment was not a mistake, explaining that Mr Burnham was speaking about the situation now and that both remain fully committed to every part of the Good Friday Agreement, including provisions on a border poll.

Downing Street also clarified that the Prime Minister's commitment to the agreement and the principle of consent remains unwavering.