"No more division, and no more delay", statement on Northern Ireland
29 April 2019 (updated on 29 April 2019)
Northern Ireland Secretary, Karen Bradley, updated the House of Commons on Northern Ireland.
The Northern Irish Secretary returned to the Commons Chamber a week after her statement last week following the death of journalist Lyra McKee. Addressing MPs, she said that last week had been a time for mourning, but that now was a time for action. Having attended McKee's funeral, along with the Prime Minister, Bradley said that the message from Northern Ireland was;
"No more violence, no more division, and no more delay. Northern Ireland's political leaders must come together now, and must work together to stand firm against those who oppose peace and the political process, and work to build a genuinely shared future for all the people of Northern Ireland."
The Minister reiterated her commitment to restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland and announced that talks between parties would resume.
Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Tony Lloyd responded for the Opposition, welcoming the spirit of the Government's statement. He commented on it having taken a tragedy for attention to be drawn to the Northern Irish situation, appealing to politicians to "build the politics of unity and purpose, the politics of change." Speaking of the unity shown at Lyra McKee's funeral, he said;
"What united the congregation in St Anne's was the common understanding of the outrage of Lyra McKee's murder but also the hope that something better had to emerge"
- Watch Parliament TV: statement on Northern Ireland update
- Read Commons Hansard: statement on Northern Ireland update
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