A Letter From Ireland
a Chara,
The votes are counted and the results are in. Sinn Féin has completed a historic election trifecta. In the north of Ireland, it is the largest party of local government, in the Assembly and now at Westminster.
This in a state gerrymandered to have a permanent unionist majority. It is another sign of a changing Ireland. A way-marker on the road to Irish unity. But we have further to travel.
The election also delivered a landslide victory for the British Labour Party. Keir Starmer is now Prime minister, and he has appointed Hilary Benn as his Secretary of State for the North of Ireland.
While he served in opposition, Keir Starmer described himself as an avowed unionist, in favour of maintaining partition in Ireland. That may be the case, but as Prime Minister, he is bound by the obligations of the Good Friday Agreement to be impartial.
The agreement is clear: the future constitutional position, Irish Unity or continued division, is a matter for the people of Ireland North and South, and a matter for the people alone. It obliges the government with jurisdictions to act with “rigorous impartiality” with equality and respect between all communities.
When asked about the issue of Unity referendums on his visit to Belfast on Monday, the new Prime Minister said, “This is provided for by the Good Friday Agreement, and I am absolutely committed to the Good Friday Agreement. Today is a recommitment to that and to the approach and role of the UK government in that as an honest broker”
This is the first Labour Government in 14 years.
For the last 14 years, the Tory-led British government moved away from the principles of the Good Friday Agreement and away from working in partnership with the Irish Government, to unilateral actions and breaking agreements.
This was the government that imposed Brexit and passed legislation that ended judicial and police investigations into killing during the conflict and banned victims from access to the court.
The new Labour government has committed to repealing and replacing this legislation. It remains to be seen how this commitment will be converted into action. Will the legislation be revoked in full? Will stalled inquests and investigations be allowed to continue and the rights of victims to access the courts vindicated?
In addition, will any replacement be consistent with the previous agreements, legal obligations, and agreed with the Irish Government in consultation with other political parties and victims groups?
In a historic week for Irish republicans, the new British Government has been making the right noises, but delivery is what will count.
The British Labour Party did not stand in elections in the North of Ireland. It has no mandate to govern.
All of this leads to the fundamental conclusion that no British Government should have jurisdiction over any part of Ireland. Achieving that end took a significant step last weekend.
Have a good weekend.
Is mise,
Ciarán
Ciarán Quinn is the Sinn Féin Representative to North America. Each week he writes a letter from Ireland with news and analysis. It is featured in the weekly Friends of Sinn Féin USA Newsletter. Be sure you are subscribed to stay up to date.
