Former NI secretary ‘regrets’ saying she didn’t know Nationalists didn’t vote for unionist parties

Former NORTH IRELAND Secretary Karen Bradley has expressed regret at the “pain” caused when she said she did not know that the Nationalists did not vote for unionist parties before taking office.

Bradley was also forced to apologize to the UK Parliament yesterday for saying that the deaths caused by police and soldiers during the riots were not crimes.

The Conservative MP served as NI secretary for 18 months and was replaced in July 2019 by Julian Smith, who in turn was replaced by Brandon Lewis in February this year.

Lewis himself made headlines earlier this month after admitting that a key piece of Brexit law would “violate international law” in a “very specific and limited way.”

The UK internal market bill seeks to nullify elements of the UK’s Brexit deal with Brussels in relation to the North, in a bid to protect trade deals.

Speaking in September 2018, Bradley admitted that she did not “understand some of the deep-seated issues in Northern Ireland” before becoming Secretary of NI.

“I didn’t understand things like when elections are fought, for example, in Northern Ireland, people who are nationalists don’t vote for unionist parties and vice versa.”

Her admission raised concerns about how she had been appointed to the position without knowing that the region was politically divided in that way.

But commenting last night as MPs considered amendments to the domestic market bill, Bradley highlighted the importance of language, while explaining why she was “undecided” about how she will vote.

She told the House of Commons: “I know more than many how important language is in Northern Ireland.

“I have said things, I have spoken badly and I have made disposable comments and I have regretted them greatly. And the reason I regret so much is because they hurt people.

“People who have been through more injuries than any of us could imagine were hurt by the words I spoke.

“And I regret that point more than anything I have done in my political career. I have a lot to be proud of, but I’m sorry I hurt people, and that language is very important.

“So, I can urge everyone in this chamber, from the front, from the front of the opposition and from all sides to remember the language we use because our friends and allies are listening to what we say.”

Expressing concern over certain sections of the bill, Bradley also said that the UK government should not ask MPs to vote for an illegal law as a negotiating tactic.

“So, I tell the minister that today I am undecided as to which direction I will vote tonight because I respect that the government has moved and has committed, and I understand that it is something difficult for governments to do.

“But I ask the minister to give me clarity: if I go through the lobbies today, am I breaking the law? If I go through the lobbies today, will the law be broken as a result of me doing this? “

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Theresa May said she would not support the new legislation, accusing the government of acting “recklessly and irresponsibly” on its implementation.

Many Conservative MPs warned against adopting the legislation’s most controversial measures, but only two ended up voting against it while 29 abstained, including May.

Contains reports from the Press Association and – © AFP 2020