Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bradley: PM’S visit was not a distraction to doomed talks
THE Secretary of State has denied the Prime Minister’s intervention in ill-fated talks proved a distraction.
Karen Bradley insisted it was right Theresa May visited Northern Ireland on Monday.
She also suggested Mrs May’s tour of the Bombardier aircraft factory in Belfast prior to going to Stormont was the primary reason for the visit.
The DUP, the Tory Government’s confidence and supply partners at Westminster, were most critical of the PM’S appearance, suggesting they advised her against it because a deal was not yet done.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said the visit acted as a “distraction”, while party colleague Simon Hamilton said it disrupted progress.
IMPASSE
A mooted deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein to restore powersharing after a 13-month impasse fell apart only 48 hours later, amid an acrimonious blame game between the two main parties.
Mrs Bradley said: “It is absolutely right that she should come and visit Northern Ireland.”
The Secretary of State was asked twice about the Prime Minister’s intervention in the talks and on both occasions she instead focused on her trip to Bombardier’s factory floor.
She said: “Quite rightly she came to visit a great business in Northern Ireland, a big employer, a business that we want to see thrive and grow and really dedicate itself to Northern Ireland, and that’s what the Prime Minister was here to do.”
As well as meeting the parties at Stormont House on Monday, Mrs May also held talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Commenting on the state of the talks, Mrs Bradley said she would make a statement to MPS on Tuesday.