Northern Ireland Secretary flies in for emergency talks over rioting

The Northern Ireland Secretary is flying to Belfast to hold emergency talks with the main political parties as well as faith and community leaders in an attempt to quell a spate of violence.

Brandon Lewis will meet with First Minister Arlene Foster, from the DUP, and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, from Sinn Fein this afternoon, the PA news agency understands.

He was also expected to meet Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken and Alliance party leader Naomi Long following several nights of disorder that have seen dozens of police officers injured.

NI Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis.

Ahead of the talks, Mr Lewis urged all communities to work together to end the violence, saying the determination to move on from the Troubles cannot be “crushed by a small minority”.

In a statement, he said: “All communities in Northern Ireland must work together to resolve the tensions that we are currently facing.

“The people of Northern Ireland deserve better than a continuation of the violence and disorder that we have witnessed in recent days. I know, from my ongoing contact with party leaders, that this is a view that is shared by all. The only way to resolve differences is through dialogue and in that regard we must all lead by example.

“Those engaged in this destruction and disorder do not represent Northern Ireland.

“I have seen first hand the true spirit of Northern Ireland – the creativity, the optimism and the determination to never return to the conflict and division of the past. We cannot allow that spirit to be crushed by a small minority intent on violence.”

I am being kept closely appraised by PSNI of developments on recent unrest and I repeat calls for calm.
I am appalled that 41 officers have been injured and my thoughts are with them. The people of NI do not support violence or disorder on the streets.

— Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) April 7, 2021

He said that he is “aware of the ongoing concerns from some in the unionist and loyalist community”.

“However, I remain clear that the right way to express concerns or frustrations is through dialogue, engagement, and the democratic process, not through violence or disorder,” he added.

“Following engagement earlier today, I welcome the statement from the Executive and join them in appealing for calm.

“I will do all I can to continue to facilitate further constructive discussions on the way forward over the coming days. I remain in close contact with the Prime Minister to keep him updated."

Meanwhile,

Sir Keir Starmer earlier urged Boris Johnson to “step up” and convene all-party talks, as he noted Unionist concerns that the Prime Minister’s Brexit promises are not being kept.

The Labour leader, a former human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said there is “no justification” for the rioting.

But he acknowledged there are concerns over the arrangements for the nation after the UK left the European Union, and he told Mr Johnson to find “pragmatic political solutions” over the rioting.

The Prime Minister has said he is “deeply concerned” by the scenes and called for calm in the region, adding: “The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.”

The violence unfolded amid increasing political tensions over the trade border in the Irish Sea caused by Mr Johnson’s Brexit agreements with Brussels, as well as fallout from the police’s handling of a mass republican funeral that took place during coronavirus restrictions.

Sir Keir said: “This is about leadership and the Prime Minister can’t be absent. He needs to convene talks urgently to find pragmatic political solutions to reduce this violence."

Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer.

Asked during a campaign visit to Bristol if he thinks the violence is a consequence of Brexit, the Labour leader said: “There are concerns in Northern Ireland about Brexit, there are concerns about the promises that the Prime Minister made which haven’t been kept.

“They don’t justify the violence, let’s be very, very clear about that.

“What the Prime Minister needs to do now is step up, show leadership, convene all-party talks and talk to the government of Ireland of course as well, and resolve this with pragmatic political solutions.”

The Stormont Assembly was recalled from Easter recess for an emergency sitting to debate the violence, which has mostly flared in loyalist areas.

UK Cabinet minister Matt Hancock earlier described the reasons for the violence in Northern Ireland as “complex” as he called for dialogue.

The Health Secretary told Sky News: “Of course we’re concerned and the route out of this is dialogue and I’d encourage all sides to engage in that dialogue.

“The reasons for this violence are complex.

“I’ve spoken to the Northern Ireland Secretary and he and the Prime Minister are obviously working very closely on this.

“From the UK Government point of view we’d like to see all sides engaged in that dialogue and (for it to) be resolved as a devolved matter by the people of Northern Ireland.”