Putney MP Leads Parliamentary Delegation to Northern Ireland
Cross-party group learns about impact of resumption of power-sharing
The MPs during their visit to the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast
March 29, 2024
Labour MP for Putney Fleur Anderson MP this week led a cross party parliamentary delegation of 17 MPs on a two-day excursion to Northern Ireland.
The visit came in the wake of a landmark agreement reached between political parties Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party, which will see both parties sharing power to govern from Stormont.
The delegation's two-day trip commenced with a visit to Stormont, where Anderson and her colleagues were received by Edwin Poots, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The group then met with historian Declan Harvey, discussing exploring Northern Ireland's rich historical heritage.
Meeting with community leaders, teachers, dockyard workers and politicians, the MP also visited the iconic Harland and Wolff dockyard, where the Titanic was built and she saw barges being built that are destined for the Thames. They will ultimately transport waste down the river, meaning residents may well see the barges passing Putney in the next few years.
The shipyard is now dedicated to sustainable practices. The MPs met with engineers and workers across the shipyard, discussing working practices, environmental protections, markets and the impacts of Brexit and the Windsor Framework.
Ms Anderson and fellow MPs then joined MLAs for discussions covering topics including business, trade, public services, Brexit and environmental concerns, under the framework of the Windsor Agreement.
The day culminated in a musical welcome from pupils at The Forge School, and the following day the delegation met with pupils from Lagan College, discussing the value of integrated education.
A visit to Belfast's peace walls served as a stark reminder of the enduring challenges facing Northern Ireland and the constant work of reconciliation and peace building. The delegation visited WAVE Trauma, where they met with individuals impacted by The Troubles, to discuss the importance of trauma-informed care and the far-reaching legacy of past violence.
Fleur Anderson MP said, “From my previous visits in my role as Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, I know what the restoration of power sharing at Stormont means for people living across all communities in Northern Ireland. This trip, which I organised to show MPs the people, businesses, charities and industries in Northern Ireland as it undergoes huge change, was also an opportunity to reflect on the progress made across the last decades. We held hugely inspiring discussions with local people - teachers, dockyard workers, students, political leaders, local businesses and social groups, discussing what is needed for a continued positive future for all citizens of Northern Ireland. It was a brilliant trip.”
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, said, “I think this is an extraordinarily exciting time for Northern Ireland, because the people of Northern Ireland needed their government back and everybody has welcomed the fact that the Executive has been restored. I think Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly have made a fantastic start as the leadership team, as the First Minister and the deputy First Minister. I was in Washington a week and a bit ago, and I think it’s fair to say that Northern Ireland was, in a way, the star of the show, because so many people were talking about the possibilities and the opportunities that there are.”
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