Mallon attacks Blair's 'duplicitous approach' to North

16/03/2005 - 07:10:28
Seamus Mallon, one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement has attacked British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s “duplicitous approach” to negotiations in the North.

Seamus Mallon, former deputy leader of the SDLP, said Mr Blair “acted in bad faith” by making under-the-table deals with Sinn Féin while ignoring the SDLP and Ulster Unionists.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the 68-year-old MP for Newry and Armagh said the British government’s approach to the North had “wiped out” the middle ground, catering instead for extremists.

He said: “The centre parties acted in good faith only to discover weeks or months later that the governments were not acting in good faith.

“You cannot negotiate on that basis, with that fault line. There are elements of skill in negotiation, but if you give your word you keep it.”