Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Politics: Labour's Ulster peace plan intact

Colin Brown
Monday 01 December 1997 01:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The bi-partisan approach to the Northern Ireland peace process will not be broken off in spite of the Tory criticism of Tony Blair for inviting Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein leader, to Downing Street.

On the eve of renewed cross-party talks in Belfast, the visit was attacked by Andrew Mackay, the Tory spokesman on Northern Ireland, who said the Tories would not have invited Mr Adams to Downing Street on 11 December if they had still been in power. But Lord Parkinson, the Tory chairman, said on GMTV: "I don't think this does herald the end of bipartisanship. What it means is that if the Government makes a mistake, we reserve the right to point out that we believe that it is a mistake. But we back them in their search for a permanent peace."

His remarks could limit the Tories scope for using the visit as a weapon against the Government. The Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, accused Mr Blair of inviting Mr Adams after a U-turn. Mr Trimble said the Prime Minister had gone to meet Mr Adams in Belfast to avoid the embarrassment of a meeting at Number 10, but had changed his mind.

"In the last week there has been a lot of whingeing from Sinn Fein and indeed sabre-rattling, threats to go back to what they know best, and so the Government is making the announcement now in the hope of massaging the egos of these former terrorist leaders," Mr Trimble said on GMTV.

Mr Trimble intends to protest to the Irish foreign minister David Andrews after saying his government was seeking a settlement which included powerful cross-border bodies with powers "not unlike a government". Unionists have branded the idea as unacceptable and smacking of an "embryonic all-Ireland government".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in