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bronxiteforever

(9,287 posts)
Thu Feb 13, 2020, 10:01 AM Feb 2020

Julian Smith Northern Ireland Secretary sacked by Johnson (peacemaker in NI)

RTÉ
February 13,2020
By Tommie Gorman

Julian Smith became the first casualty of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government reshuffle after being unceremoniously dumped from the Northern Ireland Office... Appointed last July, sacked by Boris Johnson today, Julian Smith is very obviously unacceptable within Boris Johnson's administration, strengthened by its December general election victory.

He was a Remainer and an active Chief Whip when Theresa May was prime minister...In his time based in Belfast, Julian Smith literally made history. The deal that led to the restoration of power-sharing last month, would not have happened without the drive of the talks' co-chairs, Julian Smith and Tánaiste Simon Coveney.

It created a new dynamism in British Irish relationships a very cohesive Northern Ireland Secretary-Minister for Foreign Affairs relationship. When Boris Johnson visited Stormont to laud the return of devolved government last month, he almost gave his Northern Ireland Secretary the vote of confidence. Today he used the wiggle room to sack him.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar replied on Twitter saying Mr Smith is one of the finest British politicians...
Elsewhere, Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, one of the five parties that re-entered the Stormont Assembly, said Mr Smith's approach had been central to breaking the logjam after his predecessors had tried and failed in successive talks... "It tells you all you need to know about Boris Johnson's attitude to the North... Sacking the most successful Secretary of State in a decade shows Johnson's dangerous indifference to us."



https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2020/0213/1114964-uk-cabinet-reshuffle/

Blessed are the peacemakers. A man respected and admired by all parties in NI and who obtained the trust and an agreement from all sides in the midst of Brexit. He then gets the boot from “Little Trump”. This is bad.








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Julian Smith Northern Ireland Secretary sacked by Johnson (peacemaker in NI) (Original Post) bronxiteforever Feb 2020 OP
There are always consequences. BoJo is behaving much the way I expected. I'm sure I'm abqtommy Feb 2020 #1
And one of the thickest yes men in Westminster has replaced him Soph0571 Feb 2020 #2
+1 I am so sorry that you right thinking bronxiteforever Feb 2020 #4
BBC radio just pointed out Smith criticised the illegal prorogation of parliament muriel_volestrangler Feb 2020 #3
+1 being pro rule of law makes you an enemy bronxiteforever Feb 2020 #5
Yes, the only minister who actually accomplished anything gets sacked LeftishBrit Feb 2020 #6

bronxiteforever

(9,287 posts)
4. +1 I am so sorry that you right thinking
Thu Feb 13, 2020, 01:35 PM
Feb 2020

People have to go through this at the same time our is government is a crime syndicate.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,146 posts)
3. BBC radio just pointed out Smith criticised the illegal prorogation of parliament
Thu Feb 13, 2020, 01:14 PM
Feb 2020

and he also spoke openly that "No Deal" would be bad for Northern Ireland. So he was basically a Conservative who knew the law, had a realistic assessment of Brexit, and was good at brokering agreements. Far too competent and honest for a Johnson cabinet ...

bronxiteforever

(9,287 posts)
5. +1 being pro rule of law makes you an enemy
Thu Feb 13, 2020, 01:37 PM
Feb 2020

Of our government too. We sympathize and hope for better times for both of us.

LeftishBrit

(41,190 posts)
6. Yes, the only minister who actually accomplished anything gets sacked
Sat Feb 15, 2020, 07:57 AM
Feb 2020

Par for the course with Prime Minister Cummings

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