Despite Allister’s goading, Starmer says as little as possible on NI
Kevin Meagher explains how PM Starmer’s response to a question from the TUV leader shows how British politicians care little about Union with the North of Ireland.
Jim Allister got up at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons last week, seemingly oblivious that his attempts at being clever and snarky just don’t play in the chamber.
Anyway, the TUV leader croaked through a convoluted question, the punchline to which was fairly obvious: the inequity of the Windsor Framework and the general treachery of the British government:
‘Given the strategic commitment to Irish unity in the programme for government of the new government in Dublin, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he and his government have a strategic and economic interest in retaining Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom? If they do, why then is he continuing with the system whereby, in over 300 areas of law in the economic sphere, Northern Ireland is subject not to UK law, but to the same laws that apply in the Irish Republic—laws that we do not make and cannot change?’
Yadda, yadda.
Poor Jim doesn’t seem to understand his place. He’s just another Irishman talking about issues the English, Scottish and Welsh politicians barely understand and don’t particularly care about.
What I thought was interesting was Keir Starmer’s reply to him, which I quote in full:
‘Mr Speaker, we’re proud of and totally committed to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland matters to this government and it matters to me. He will know that I worked there for five years with the police service in Northern Ireland and I want to see Northern Ireland secure and safe for all communities and thriving in the future and I believe that it can be and we will do everything to make sure that it does.’
This was a total non-engagement with Allister’s points, with the Prime Minister either not understanding the elliptical reference to having a ‘strategic and economic interest’ in the place, or just not caring to respond.
Was Jim expecting a rhetorical flourish about how Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, admonishing Dublin politicians for sticking their noses into its affairs?
There was no first principles defence of Northern Ireland, just a passing reference to wanting to make it ‘thrive’ ‘for all communities.’
Indeed, in promising to honour the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ (not the ‘Belfast’ Agreement to placate unionist sensitivities) Starmer managed to be entirely neutral on a border poll, neither ruling one in our out.
And forget the Windsor Framework. This is now part of the fixtures and fittings and it isn’t going anywhere.
No, this careful and bland reply is now the settled approach for British ministers on all issues referring to the North.
Be cautious, rule nothing in our out and wrap yourself in the pages of the agreement.
Kevin Meagher explains how PM Starmer’s response to a question from the TUV leader shows how British politicians care little about Union with the North of Ireland.
Jim Allister got up at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons last week, seemingly oblivious that his attempts at being clever and snarky just don’t play in the chamber.
Anyway, the TUV leader croaked through a convoluted question, the punchline to which was fairly obvious: the inequity of the Windsor Framework and the general treachery of the British government:
Yadda, yadda.
Poor Jim doesn’t seem to understand his place. He’s just another Irishman talking about issues the English, Scottish and Welsh politicians barely understand and don’t particularly care about.
What I thought was interesting was Keir Starmer’s reply to him, which I quote in full:
This was a total non-engagement with Allister’s points, with the Prime Minister either not understanding the elliptical reference to having a ‘strategic and economic interest’ in the place, or just not caring to respond.
Was Jim expecting a rhetorical flourish about how Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, admonishing Dublin politicians for sticking their noses into its affairs?
There was no first principles defence of Northern Ireland, just a passing reference to wanting to make it ‘thrive’ ‘for all communities.’
Indeed, in promising to honour the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ (not the ‘Belfast’ Agreement to placate unionist sensitivities) Starmer managed to be entirely neutral on a border poll, neither ruling one in our out.
And forget the Windsor Framework. This is now part of the fixtures and fittings and it isn’t going anywhere.
No, this careful and bland reply is now the settled approach for British ministers on all issues referring to the North.
Be cautious, rule nothing in our out and wrap yourself in the pages of the agreement.
Get used to hearing it.