NEW: In a conversation with Northern Ireland’s leaders the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has “apologised unreservedly” on behalf of the UK government for the massacre in Ballymurphy in 1971. 10 innocent people were shot dead by the British army.
No 10 spokesperson: “The Prime Minister apologised unreservedly on behalf of the UK Government for the events that took place in Ballymurphy and the huge anguish that the lengthy pursuit of truth has caused the families of those killed.”
Many criticising Johnson for not making a full apology in the Commons, Does rather contrast with David Cameron’s response to Bloody Sunday- which was a full HoC statement. bbc.com/news/10322295
NI Sec Brandon Lewis apologises on behalf of the government on the floor of the House. Says govt “profoundly regrets and is truly sorry" Ballymurphy. Says that the Prime Minister will be writing to the families of the ten victims. But still nothing from the PM on camera.
Shadow NI Sec @LouHaigh: “Where is the Prime Minister today and why has he not publicly apologised to the Ballymurphy families?"
Says "we are no closer to understanding the government's policy to dealing with the legacy of the past.”
Says "we are no closer to understanding the government's policy to dealing with the legacy of the past.”
As I said yesterday it is a significant contrast between David Cameron’s approach to Bloody Sunday- not least as the PM addressed the House yesterday and could have mentioned it.
https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1392583009400987648
Opposition MP after opposition MP asking Lewis when PM will meet with the families in person. NI Sec responds that Johnson will be “apologising directly to the families”- by which I think mean he’s writing to them.
Ian Paisley Jr: “this is a most heartbreaking affair. It cuts right to the quick of a divided city, a divided country, a divided people. And as a Protestant man, a unionist man, as a loyalist I stretch out my hand of love, of forbearance, of common grief.”
Labour’s @karinsmyth: “I apply a simple test- what would happen if this happened in Bristol and not Belfast?...he is their prime minister, of all faiths and none and as their PM it is a disgrace that he is not here to make this statement from this dispatch box”
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
