The flat-footed Peter Hain used Boxing Day to make an attack on Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary David Lidington's opposition to the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill. This Bill had been dubbed the 'on-the-run' bill because of its promise to provide unconditional amnesties to fugitive IRA and other terrorists.
The bill has now been scrapped after Sinn Fein withdrew its support from the controversial legislation. Today's Sun called the bill "revolting" and continued: "The nation has turned a blind eye to the early release of convicted IRA terrorists. But welcoming Provo killers back to Ulster with blood still on their hands is a step too far."
Commenting on Peter Hain's u-turn David Lidington said:
"We welcome the Government's decision to withdraw the OTR legislation today. The Bill was misconceived, opposed by all political parties in Northern Ireland and all the opposition parties in the House of Commons. More important, it was deeply resented by victims groups and families of those who have suffered at the hands of terrorists. On this occasion, Peter Hain has done the right thing. On political talks, we share the Government's objective of re-establishing the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland. Before that can happen however, there will need to be a rebuilding of trust and confidence that has been so badly fractured in recent years mainly due to actions of the Sinn Féin/IRA. Republicans must end their involvement in all forms of criminal activity. Sinn Féin must give its full and unequivocal support to the police, the courts and the rule of law if they are to aspire to serve as ministers in a devolved government. Clearly, it will take more than one IMC report to demonstrate that republicans have turned their backs on criminality for good. We will need to be certain over a period of time that their commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means is permanent and irreversible."
We should all remember Tony Blair's attempt to pass this appeasement process bill next time we hear one of his hand-of-history speeches on his opposition to terrorism.
I heard Hain's disgusting attempt to justify this loathsome piece of legislation and its withdrawl once it didn't suit Sinn Fein on PM last night.
Was it just me or did his clumsy phrasing imply that members of the security forces had been involved in serious terrorist acts. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and put that down to incoherence.
Anyone know where I can get a transcript?
I had another shouting at the radio moment when he started going on about how the citizens of Northern Ireland were not ready to overlook the crimes of the 'on-the'runs'.
They aren't the only ones.
The idea that the families of the victims of atrocities should be happy with the thought that those who murdered their loved ones have a criminal record, a line on a page, as the sum total of the punishment for their crimes is an absolute insult.
It turns my stomach every time Blair tries to destory our liberty in an ironic attempt to stop terrorist from destroying it. More so knowing that some of the alleged leaders of the most sustained terrorist campaign this country has ever seen are happily sitting in regional government in this country and that the government is seeking to virtually wipe the slate clean for some of the perpetrators of the worst attacks on this country.
Posted by: Mike Christie | January 12, 2006 at 08:41
Despite continuing close competition from the redoubtable Miss Kelly, Peter Hain is my nomination for minister of the day.
Posted by: Simon C | January 12, 2006 at 08:44
The odd thing is, Peter Hain appears to get away with this behaviour.I would have expected howls of outrage throughout the media and on the airwaves,where is it?
Posted by: malcolm | January 12, 2006 at 09:17
They are distracted by the orange corner sideshow.
Bring it on Lidington!
Get behind him everyone else!
Posted by: Simon C | January 12, 2006 at 09:39
"The odd thing is, Peter Hain appears to get away with this behaviour.I would have expected howls of outrage throughout the media and on the airwaves,where is it?"
It isn't just Hain, 'peace' in Northern Ireland is part of Blair's 'legacy'. Under successive secrataries of state Blair has been keen to maintain the illusion that the IRA and other paramilitaries are no longer in business, turning a blind eye to beatings, robberies organised crime and murder whilst at the same time freeing dangerous terrorists from prison.
Posted by: Mike Christie | January 12, 2006 at 11:12
Tories need to show, once again, that they are firmly behind Loyal Ulster.
FCS proved it years ago. I was a member of the team which went to Ulster to show solidarity then. We need to do the same now.
No surrender!
Posted by: BB | January 12, 2006 at 11:28
The really disgusting thing here is that all the other political parties were against this both Unionist (UUP & DUP) and nationalist (SDLP) and the Alliance but the government only changed its mind once Sein Fein came out against it.
Time and time again the government ignores the wishes of the Northern Irish people and only listens to Sein Fein/ IRA. The Labour government is only interested in headline terorism and frankly and upsettingly that means attacks on England. They treat killings, maimings and gang land activities as irrelevant as long as they are kept in N Ireland. Ut is without doubt institutionalised racism.
Liddington is right - the Conservatives have finally got a good and sensible policy on Northern Ireland one that actually resonates with the people and defends those who are non violent and democratic. My greatest wish is that we as a party could organise in Ulster properly and capitalise on the demise of the UUP. A conservative party with the Cameron factor could do great things in N Ireland and change politics there long term.
Posted by: RobertDonnell | January 12, 2006 at 11:57
BB - facile comments about 'Loyal Ulster' and 'No surrender' only cheapen the debate and leave conservative unionsits open to attack as empire loving bigots. This debate is about a commitment to democracy, respect for the rule of law and the wishes of the majority not about harking back to the past.
Posted by: RobertDonnell | January 12, 2006 at 12:00
Robert, Mark Durkan has drawn attention several times to the fact that the political representatives of 78% of Northern Ireland's voters just get sidelined as a result of direct negotiations between the government and Sinn Fein.
Posted by: Sean Fear | January 12, 2006 at 12:33
Thanks to the British army the IRA were on the ropes in the 1990s. Any sensible Conservative and Unionist Government with guts would have held its nerve and finished them off. Instead the brave Mr Major decided to throw them a lifeline in the form of a peace treaty.
I recall an opinion poll shortly after 9/11 where the majority of respondents said the IRA ought to be dealt with in the same way as a certain Muslim terrorist organisation operating from Afghanistan. So much for the War Against Terrorism.
Posted by: Richard | January 12, 2006 at 19:20
Sean - I agree with you the govt. repeatly ignores the wishes of 78% to do deals with terrorists. Mark Durkan has been much stronger against SF than Hume ever was.
Posted by: RobertDonnell | January 12, 2006 at 19:35
Given the degree of infiltration of the IRA by the security forces, I agree they could have been finished off 15 years ago.
Posted by: Sean Fear | January 12, 2006 at 20:23