Picture caption Mr Lewis was appointed on
Mr Lewis was appointed on Thursday after the Prime Minister sacked Julian Smith
The brand new NI secretary of state, Brandon Lewis has made his first official go to to Northern Eire.
He was appointed on Thursday after the prime minister sacked former NI secretary, Julian Smith.
On Friday, he held discussions on the cellphone with native politicians and visited the Northern Eire Science Park in Belfast.
Mr Lewis spent the day studying his new temporary and speaking to a number of the key gamers in Northern Eire politics.
He spoke to the primary and deputy first minsters, Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill, in addition to PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne.
He additionally spoke to Tánaiste (Eire’s deputy prime minister) Simon Coveney, who labored with Julian Smith to type New Decade, New Approach, the doc which restored power-sharing at Stormont.
Border ballot
Later, he met reporters and was requested about the potential of calling a border ballot within the close to future.
“I am absolutely conscious of my tasks as secretary of state, however my focus for the time being is on ensuring we make a superb success of the New Decade, New Strategy deal, to verify we’re delivering for folks throughout Northern Eire.”
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Mr Lewis additionally paid tribute to his predecessor Julian Smith, describing him as “an excellent secretary of state” and saying he had “powerful boots to fill”.
“I am very lucky to be coming in as secretary of state off the again of anyone who did an amazing job.
“I do know [he] shall be there with all the recommendation that I want.”
Picture copyright
Charles McQuillan
Julian Smith (left) helped to revive power-sharing at Stormont
Mr Smith had helped to revive power-sharing at Stormont, however was let go after simply 204 days within the job.
Arlene Foster mentioned she hopes Mr Lewis will cement the administration in NI, whereas Michelle O’Neill mentioned an pressing assembly had been agreed with the SoS.
The Sinn Féin vice-president mentioned there have been plenty of points to be mentioned with Mr Lewis.
In a tweet, Mr Lewis mentioned he was “wanting ahead” to his new function.
Talking on BBC Radio 4 DUP chief, Arlene Foster, mentioned: “It is not for Sinn Féin to determine whether or not a border ballot occurs or not – it is for the secretary of state for Northern Eire, if he appears at Northern Eire and decides that there was a change.”
She added: “Really the change has been in the other way and the union must be underscored as one of the best for all the folks of Northern Eire.
“To do this, Brandon Lewis needs to be an advocate for the union and I very a lot hope that he’s.”
Mr Lewis is a former chair of the Conservative Celebration and, most not too long ago, a safety minister in Boris Johnson’s cupboard.
He has been the MP for Nice Yarmouth on the east coast of England since 2010.
He campaigned for Stay within the EU referendum in 2016 however later mentioned he would help leaving the EU as he was “before everything a democrat”.
Final yr, throughout an interview with the BBC, Mr Lewis mentioned that after Brexit checks on some items leaving Nice Britain for Northern Eire can be required if these items had been then destined to depart the UK.
However he disputed the accuracy of a leaked authorities doc that said customs declarations checks can be extremely disruptive and separate Northern Eire from Nice Britain.
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Mr Lewis turns into the fourth Northern Eire secretary in 4 years. His three most-recent predecessors are:
- James Brokenshire – appointed in July 2016
- Karen Bradley – appointed January 2018
- Julian Smith – appointed in July 2019