Lib Dems: We must reject violence in Northern Ireland
Responding to reports that journalist Lyra McKee has been killed during violence in Londonderry, Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:
I never met Lyra McKee but by all accounts she was a young woman of great talent, courage and humanity. These are all talents that we need now more than ever so we should all mourn her passing.
My condolences go to all her family and friends who are having to come to terms with their loss today. Unlike Lyra, those who bring violence to the streets of Northern Ireland have nothing to offer.
Their actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people who want to build a peaceful and shared future. People on both sides of the Irish Sea should reflect today on the fragility of the peace in Northern Ireland.
Brexit threatens European work colleagues – even in Parliament
The Liberal Democrats have warned that flaws in the Conservative Government’s EU Settled Status scheme will threaten the rights of EU citizens, including 175 people across Parliament.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey asked “With all their scandals and reputation for inefficiency, how can anyone believe the Home Office will process applications from our 3 million European neighbours, friends, family and colleagues, within just two years?”
“Without documentation, thousands could be abandoned to the Tories’ hostile environment, including members of staff working right at the heart of Parliament.”
The warning comes as the Liberal Democrats reveal through a Freedom of Information request that 175 EU citizens work in the House of Commons and House of Lords.
In total, some 7.4% of the 2,715 members of staff who work in Parliament – passholders ranging from kitchen staff to policy advisers and researchers – are citizens of the European Union.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:
The Tories’ Brexit chaos has made EU citizens deeply anxious about their future in our country. Many European work colleagues fill vital roles in our NHS, our schools and even across Parliament.
Frankly, I am lost for words that so many reckless MPs sit in Parliament voting through a Brexit that puts at risk the rights of people they work with on a daily basis – not to mention their own European constituents.
EU citizens who live and work here deserve better, and the Liberal Democrats demand better. Ultimately, the best way to avoid all of this mess is by giving the people the option to stay in the EU with a final say on Brexit.
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8 Comments
“Journalist Lyra McKee … killed in Derry/Londonderry”:
Two men arrested this morning, 20/4/2019, under the Terrorism Act, aged 18 and 19.
She had planned to marry her partner, but not in Northern Ireland, being LGBT.
Apparently the police had intelligence that there would be trouble on the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and searched the area for guns. Obviously there were gun/s and obviously they did not find them all. It is unclear whether the victim was targeted for being a journalist or whether she was present because she was a journalist. The leaders of six political parties were present. We spotted the APNI leader, Naomi Long.
https://allianceparty.org/article/2019/0012283/a-statement-from-the-party-leaders-on-the-murder-of-lyra-mckee
https://allianceparty.org/article/2019/0012282/long-passes-condolences-to-lyra-mckee-s-loved-ones
Amen to that.
There was always doubt about whether and/or how Sinn Fein would co-operate.
Gerry Adams said on tv that they should “Go to the police.”
He was asked “The PSNI?” He said “Yes”.
Change UK’s interim leader, the former Tory MP Heidi Allen, who yesterday challenged other leaders to a TV debate, claimed that the exodus from established parties showed Change UK was now the “natural home of the ‘Remain Alliance’” and of people who wanted a second referendum….
In a special ‘dig’ at this party Change UK’s Chris Leslie said…” If the Lib Dems were the answer to Britain’s broken politics we’d know that by now”
And, to top it all, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson said the party had made overtures to Change UK to join forces but had been rebuffed.
Is it too much to ask who the LibDem spokesperson was and who made the overtures?
Chris Leslie is so naive, got a lot to learn. Like how on earth a political party that exists ONLY in the Palace of Westminster,. and is in the news ONLY because it has the ear of journalists who live and breathe the air in the Westminster bubble and haven’t a clue about the reality of politics out there on the ground, could have any better answers than an established party that is reviving after recent knocks, and which has ‘000s of activists and Councillors, while his party has precisely 0 elected representatives outside the HoC.
Basically his attitude is an example of the novelty fallacy — the idea that a new party somehow magically has a better chance than an established party jsut because it is new — when the reality is that if a party like the Lib Dems cannot make a breakthrough, then it’s even less likely that a new unknown party will.
Alex Macfie 20th Apr ’19 – 10:30pm……………Chris Leslie is so naive, got a lot to learn. Like how on earth a political party that exists ONLY in the Palace of Westminster,……….— when the reality is that if a party like the Lib Dems cannot make a breakthrough, then it’s even less likely that a new unknown party will………..
A look at UKip (or the expected success of Farage’s ‘new’ venture) might cause a re-appraisal of your post.
UKip had no MPs and little political expertise yet caused the biggest political upheaval in my lifetime.
Two men released without charge, police call for “tangible evidence”.
CCTV? Mobile ‘phones? Face-masks?
Lyra McKee’s appalling murder is proof, were it needed, that violence in N.I. lies just beneath the surface. There do indeed exist people who are keen to return to the troubles and would be quite happy to exploit any change in the border situation. Baker, Francois etc please note.
It is amazing that the political class has at last got its head out of the sand and accepted that the Republican scumbags (and incidentally the protestant bigots too) haven’t gone away. Why has it taken the death of a journalist for this to happen, rather than car bombs outside court rooms or the death of a policeman?