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A senior Tory MP has expressed regret at the \u201churt\u201d her words caused while serving as Northern Ireland secretary.<\/p>\nA senior Tory MP has expressed regret at the \u201churt\u201d her words caused while serving as Northern Ireland secretary.<\/p>\n
Karen Bradley spent 18 months in the role, but faced criticism after saying she did not know nationalists in the North did not vote for unionist parties before taking office.<\/p>\n
She was also forced into an apology to the UK parliament for saying that deaths caused by police and soldiers during the Troubles were not crimes.<\/p>\n
Ms Bradley was replaced in July 2019 by Julian Smith, who in turn was given the boot in February this year.<\/p>\n
Current Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis earlier this month hit the headlines after admitting a key piece of Brexit legislation would \u201cbreak international law\u201d in a \u201cvery specific and limited way\u201d.<\/p>\n
The United Kingdom Internal Market Bill seeks to override elements of the UK\u2019s Brexit deal with Brussels in relation to Northern Ireland, in a bid to protect trading arrangements.<\/p>\n
Speaking as MPs considered amendments to the Bill, Ms Bradley stressed the importance of language \u2013 as she explained why she was \u201cundecided\u201d about how she will vote.<\/p>\n
She told the Commons: \u201cI know more than many just how important language is in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have said things, I\u2019ve misspoken and I\u2019ve made throwaway comments and I have regretted them enormously.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the reason I regretted them enormously is because they hurt people.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who have been through more hurt than any of us could ever imagine were hurt by words I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I regret that point more than just about anything I\u2019ve ever done in my political career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have much to be proud of but I regret having hurt people, and that language is so important.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo can I urge everybody in this chamber, from the frontbench, the opposition frontbench, and all around to remember the language we use because our friends and allies are listening to what we say.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they\u2019re not listening to the intricacies of amendment 64 or new clause three, they don\u2019t really know or care.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they hear is that headline, they hear us saying we\u2019re going to break international law and we\u2019re prepared to do it \u2013 and that\u2019s really powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raising concerns over certain sections of the Bill, Ms Bradley also said: \u201cThe Government should not ask MPs to vote for an illegal law as a negotiating tactic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis part (five) should be in a separate Bill, if these clauses are needed, and it should be debated separately. It should not be polluting what is an otherwise good and necessary piece of law. And all possible steps to avoid needing these clauses should be taken.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I say to the minister I\u2019m undecided today as to which way I will vote this evening because I respect the Government has moved and compromised, and I do understand that\u2019s a difficult thing for governments to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I ask the minister to give me clarity \u2013 if I walk through the lobbies today, am I breaking the law? If I walk through the lobbies today, will the law be broken as a result of me doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n