Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie launched his party's Stormont Assembly election campaign with a declaration that there will not be a United Ireland in his children's lifetime.
Speaking at the event in east Belfast, he urged voters going to the polls in May to concentrate on issues that affect their day-to-day lives, rather than long term constitutional matters.
Mr Beattie, whose constituency office in Co Armagh was attacked last week after he said his party would no longer take part in anti-Northern Ireland Protocol rallies, said the issue should not be used as an election slogan.
"Regardless of what others are saying, there will be no fundamental change in the constitutional position of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom," he said.
"Issues around the protocol can and will be dealt with, so instead of using the protocol as an election slogan, let's get to work, real work, to get the issues dealt with," he added.
"There will be no United Ireland in my lifetime, there will no United Ireland in my children's lifetime.
"If you believe that as a fundamental truth, and I believe that as a fundamental truth, then we can set it aside in order to concentrate on the daily lives of our people."
Leading the Ulster Unionist Party has been likened in recent years to being the captain of a sinking ship.
Once the dominant force north of the border, in the last Assembly election it won just 10 of the 90 seats. That left it fourth in the pecking order behind the DUP, Sinn Fein and the SDLP, with the centre ground Alliance Party on 7.
It was somewhat fitting then that the former British army officer chose a ship as the backdrop for the launch.
The vessel in question was the HMS Caroline, permanently docked as a tourist attraction in east Belfast. Built in 1914, the warship is the sole survivor of the WW1 Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle in history.
Mr Beattie wants to steer his party on a different course, and said it can take inspiration from the history of the ship, which went to battle and won. He also said it is a reminder of shared history.
"Over 260 Irishmen died during the battle (of Jutland) from all corners of this island," he said.
"They cared neither about religion or political aspirations, they died serving together, serving one another."
The party is fielding 27 candidates across the 18 constituencies, with a third of them women.
In order to succeed, it needs to win a battle on two fronts: it needs to claw back party voters who have gone to the right to the DUP, as well as those who have switched to the centre ground Alliance Party in recent elections.
The significance of the election was highlighted by the opening speaker at the event, east Belfast candidate Lauren Kerr.
"It's been said before, and said many times, but it's probably true this time, that I think this is the most important election that the Ulster Unionist Party has ever fought," she said.
"No matter what the DUP and Sinn Féin might say, the border is not on the ballot paper. What is on the ballot paper is the type of Northern Ireland that we want to build."
