Call For New NI Secretary Of State To Start Work Immediately

The new Northern Ireland Secretary of State has been called to start work immediately and to recognise that the majority of people living in NI voted to remain in the European Union (EU).

Alliance Leader David Ford made the call after the new UK Prime Minister Theresa May selected James Brokenshire for the role.

Mr Ford said: "I congratulate Mr Brokenshire on his appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, having worked closely with him during my time as Minister of Justice.

"I trust his experience during that period will help him bring a balanced view to the role of Secretary of State. Part of that role will be to recognise the majority of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain within the EU and to start work immediately on the particular circumstances of that.

"That will involve fighting for Northern Ireland in any Brexit negotiations, by articulating he will be an active advocate of the interests of Northern Ireland, both within the Cabinet and within EU discussions."

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said: "The most important issue the SDLP is working on is the campaign to protect Northern Ireland's position in the European Union. In a welcome contrast to his predecessor, Mr Brokenshire was a Remainer, knew the benefits of staying in the EU and the consequences of leaving. In his role as Secretary of State he must act in the best interests of people of Northern Ireland, and I urge him to listen to his original instincts and ensure the democratic will here is upheld.

"The new Prime Minister Theresa May has already stated her Government will break from the past but here in Northern Ireland we must deal with the Past. That means accepting the needs of victims and survivors and and living up to their expectations. It means, in this post-Referendum world, the British Government accepting its duty to respect the position it holds as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. It means working with a whole island approach, with the new Secretary of State developing a closer relationship with the Irish Government."

(CD/JP)