Secretary of State now needs to show actions and not just words, says Long

Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has said the Secretary of State has to now show “actions and not just words” to restore confidence in her, after she apologised for her comments around legacy.

The apology followed Karen Bradley’s statement yesterday, in which she said killings by the police and military during the Troubles were not crimes.

“In both her statement yesterday and her subsequent cack-handed clarification, the Secretary of State has seriously damaged confidence in her ability to address legacy issues impartially and protect the integrity of arrangements agreed at Stormont House,” said Mrs Long.

“The challenge is now for Karen Bradley to follow through on her words and demonstrate by her actions she is committed to an unbiased application of the rule of law. That includes standing up to her own colleagues, some of whom continue to push the narrative she advocated in her initial statement yesterday, and resist efforts to undermine legacy arrangements with any statute of limitations.

“The role of Secretary of State is to defend the rule of law and independence of the justice system. The onus is now on Karen Bradley to demonstrate she is capable of living up to that.”
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