Top Tory to spend week at Belfast interfaces

The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Quentin Davies has revealed that he is to spend six days with loyalist and nationalist families at two Belfast interfaces next week.

Whilst Mr Davies would not pinpoint the exact location, the Tory front-bencher said that he would spend three days close to a north Belfast peace-line and three days close to a west Belfast interface.

The Cambridge educated MP for Grantham and Stamford believes that the move will allow him a better understanding of what it is like to live in areas dominated by paramilitary groups.

"What I hope is to get a greater understanding of people's perceptions, people's hopes and fears, the issues in their lives and how they see a way out from the difficulties of the violence in the streets," he said. "I want to see things from their points of view."

During his time in Belfast, Mr Davies said he hopes, during his brief stay, to lead a normal life and to "meet as many people as possible".

When it was put to him that the move was a publicity stunt, Mr Davies said that it was "silly" to believe so.

"I want to be discreet about it… I have not given this any publicity. This is something I want to do irrespective of whether the media takes any interest in it," he said.

"It's really for my own benefit so that I can see things as much as possible through the eyes of the people who live there."

The Tory MP, who has been Shadow Northern Ireland secretary since September 2001, said that the stay had been made out of a "personal interest" and Conservative Central Office had not been involved in the arrangements.

(GMcG)