New NI Secretary Of State Confirmed

Julian Smith has been appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by new Prime Minister Boris Johnston.

The MP for Skipton and Ripon's appointment comes as part of a major cabinet reshuffle, during which outgoing secretary Karen Bradley was sacked.

Mr Smith's CV also boasts the role of parliamentary secretary to the treasury and chief whip of government.

Political leaders in Northern Ireland have called on the new secretary to engage with local parties and prioritise the restoration of the Stormont Assembly.

Ulster Unionist Leader Robin Swann urged Mr Smith to waste no time in making decisions.

The north Antrim MLA said: "If there is no agreement to restore devolution then the pace of direct rule decision making should be ramped up. We cannot afford another number of months pussyfooting around the problems. Pressure must be applied to those who are preventing the restoration of devolution.

"I assure the new Secretary of State of the Ulster Unionist Party's full positive engagement in helping to restore devolution but we won't be offering a blank cheque for a return to the flawed administration of the past, blighted by scandal and disrespect."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy urged the new secretary to approach the role with a changed approached to that of his successor. He said: "The major problem within the Northern Ireland Office is the policy it implements rather than the personality that fronts it.

"If Julian Smith continues to follow flawed and failed policies then he will fail like the previous incumbent and the one before that.

"Unfortunately, Julian Smith doesn't exactly inspire confidence given that his only interest in the North to date seems to have been to attend the DUP conference."

Offering her congratulations in a post on Twitter, DUP Leader Arlene Foster called on Mr Smith to begin by tackling the political stalemate, which has been ongoing since Stormont collapsed in January 2017, and implement change for public services.

Recognising his enormous in-tray, Ms Foster said: "Important that talks can continue to restore devolution. Our schools & hospitals are crying out for key decisions to be made."



(JG/CM)