Hain will call for cross-party co-operation
Peter Hain is to make a fresh appeal for all parties in the North to sign up to a shared future in policing and other aspects of society.
With the North’s 108 Assembly members facing a November 24 deadline for restoring power sharing at Stormont, British government sources said the Northern Ireland Secretary was preparing a speech which would stress the need for unionists and nationalists to move away from political deadlock.
It is understood the speech will stress economic powers in Asia and elsewhere will not wait for Northern Ireland’s politicians and community leaders to sort out their differences.
A source said: “Peter will say the days when Northern Ireland politicians could act as if the world will stop whilst they sort out their differences are long since gone.
“Economic powers around the world will simply not wait while Northern Ireland leaders pander to their constituencies. They have to move on.
“He will stress the need for politicians to carve out a shared future in areas like education and policing as it is no longer sustainable for the economy to fund the costs of a divided society.”
With Northern Ireland’s politicians expected to focus on policing in September, Mr Hain will stress the need for all sides to support policing.
The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists have insisted there is little point in it sharing power with Sinn Féin if Gerry Adams’ party will not recognise the PSNI as the legitimate force of law and order.
Sinn Féin has argued if there is to be progress, the DUP must commit itself to a date when policing and justice powers can be transferred from Westminster to a future Stormont government.
In what was interpreted as a positive move this week, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly revealed he held direct talks with the PSNI ahead of Wednesday’s Twelfth of July Orange Order return parade past the nationalist Ardoyne area of north Belfast to ensure it was trouble free.
The parade passed off peacefully as British soldiers stayed off Belfast’s streets for the first time in 35 years on the Twelfth of July.
It is understood the Northern Ireland Secretary will also stress the need for the North’s education system to be shared between the two communities, focussing on what unites them rather than divides them.
Sources said he would also emphasise the need to face up to economic, educational and social change around the world, especially from growing economies in India and China.
