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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

It is good to have a Liberal Democrat who would be prepared to vote for motherhood and apple pie. I rise briefly to support most strongly the new clause moved by my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson). I will not repeat what I said earlier this afternoon, the House will be relieved to hear, but I do believe very strongly that it is crucial that those who take a place in the Executive—let us hope that one can be formed—are utterly and publicly committed to upholding the rule of law. My hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury referred to his visit to south Armagh. I was privileged to take the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee there last week, and everything that he says is absolutely true. Yes, there has been significant advance—nobody denies that—but one still has to travel in an armoured helicopter or an armoured vehicle, and in a convoy. We heard some pretty horrific tales of people being set upon and beaten up. We also heard tales of extraordinary courage—of young police officers who, despite suffering the most dreadful injuries, still returned to their posts wanting to serve in south Armagh because they do so love the countryside and the people. We are dealing with a very small number of evil people and a very large number of decent ones. It is crucial that there should be public and proclaimed commitment to the rule of law. That is all that my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury is seeking to achieve. I make one other point because my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer), who has himself taken a considerable interest in these matters over the years, has just come into the Chamber. When he and I entered this House in June 1970, almost 36 years ago, the Province was represented for the most part by Ulster Unionist party Members, who sat with us on what was in those days the Government side of the House and received the Whip. I might say that the right hon. Member for North Antrim (Rev. Ian Paisley) entered on the same day and sat in the same place. I was deeply concerned earlier this week when I learned of the extraordinary arrangement between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Unionist party. I can well understand the misgivings that the hon. Member for North Down (Lady Hermon) was courageous enough to proclaim in the House this afternoon. Let us hope that I am proved wrong, and that there is more to it than the official reason that was given immediately afterwards. Let us hope that what the hon. Lady heard last night turns out to be true. However, at the moment, it looks like a rather cynical manoeuvre, and it is one that I am deeply distressed about, having always had a profound respect for that party. It has had its ups and downs, but it has always been consistently and absolutely democratic and law abiding. To find it now put into the same category as Sinn Fein by the Secretary of State’s statement today is very distressing. I think that that was very unfair on his part, but it is nevertheless distressing. The hon. Member for Foyle (Mark Durkan) has his misgivings. He said that he was unhappy about the new clauses, but he went on to say that he was happy about a pledge to uphold the rule of law. He referred to the events of earlier this week, and it is those events that underline the need for everyone who is to play a constructive part in the Northern Ireland Assembly, particularly those in the Executive who will govern the Province, to make a public proclamation of their dedication to upholding the rule of law. I hope that it will not be necessary to vote on the new clause, because I hope that we shall have a good response from the Minister, but if it is necessary to go into the Lobby, I shall certainly support my hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury most strongly.