My speech to the Labour Party Conference 2008

Sunday, 21 September.

It’s good to back in Manchester.

It’s an honour to serve this Party as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. And I know I speak also for my Ministerial colleagues Paul Goggins and in the Lords Jeff Rooker.

Ten years ago, you - with Mo Mowlam - celebrated the signing of an Agreement which marked the transformation of Northern Ireland.

Through dialogue, through politics winning, it was a new beginning; new institutions, an Assembly formed and a power sharing Executive.

But the strain was beyond burden; too soon for devolved politics to prevail against the challenges of government.

Government is hard.

But this new beginning, which the people in each community voted for in their Referendum, and which secured a majority in both communities, was here to stay.

Leadership

Always we worked with the political parties and the Irish Government, to find solutions.

There was no clear route map, but there was determination reflecting the people’s desire that we find a way through.

And so we looked forward to a new Agreement which we found in St Andrews.

And as we marked last year, a new Assembly elected – all the parties committed to devolution.

And a new power sharing Executive followed. Ian Paisley as First Minister. Now Peter Robinson. Martin McGuiness as Deputy First Minister.

It marked a new chapter in the story of politics; not violence, but politics - the vehicle for resolving division.

Of course there are still differences. For some these remain large. And progress here is about are trust.

My hope is today, there is no single difference - too great for resolution.

We knew the road to transfer policing and justice to Northern Ireland, would be long and winding.

And it is our job – our purpose -to help the parties find resolution. There are very positive signs we can work it through.

It will still require great acts of leadership from the political parties. Acts of understanding, tolerance and mutual respect.

But I believe there is a collective will to succeed.

Time can be a deadline. But time can also be a friend.

PM’s Address to Assembly

This week our Prime Minister came to Northern Ireland making his historic address to the Assembly. Reflect for a moment in its significance.

A British Prime Minister, addressing for the first time this elected Assembly.

It is a tense period in Northern Ireland. The Executive has not met - since June. It needs to meet. There is business to be agreed. The Parties need to find a way forward.

But it is also tense, because there is work to be done on policing and justice. Gordon’s message was clear. Let politics work through your differences.

We understand the obstacles.

But we can also see the progress.

We know for some Unionists, this is a difficult final step.

But we believe from polling there is a majority - in each community - to complete devolution within twelve months.

You can’t demand trust. We know you have to build trust. And through understanding and mutual respect trust is building. We promise to work to build that trust and confidence. And we promise to help ensure that when the Parties agree the transfer we will provide the help to ensure success.

We will not walk away from you.

We stand with you.

That’s why last Tuesday Gordon went to Belfast.

It was a day with plenty of demands on a Prime Minister’s time; markets in turbulence around the world, speculation about banks; even local ‘stuff’!

But his commitment to the people of Northern Ireland is resolute.

He wouldn’t let them down.

Labour and Northern Ireland

Our work as a Government in Northern Ireland so brilliantly reflects the values of this Party; a recognition there is nothing we can’t achieve, if we are prepared to work together, in our call to service.

There is no problem, no issue, no obstacle which cannot be moved, if we are prepared to work through difficulty in pursuit of the greater good.

That for those most vulnerable, Government stands ready to help – not walk on the other side.

That Government be there for the needs of the many and not the interests of the few. Especially when it’s toughest, when you face the greatest unknowns.

And in times when solutions aren’t clear - then you really look for leadership.

You, need to count on your Leader.

And your Leader should know, he can count on you.

IMC Report

Leadership has delivered in Northern Ireland.

And it continues to defy the sceptics.

Just two weeks ago the Independent Monitoring Commission delivered its special report on the IRA. It confirmed the IRA had met its obligations and kept its word.

The Army Council is now redundant.

Through conscious decisions, its military structures disbanded or consciously allowed to wither away.

And in answer to the question, would the IRA return in some future time to violence and terrorism?

The answer – an unequivocal NO.

The New Threat

There is still a threat today in Northern Ireland.

But not from the IRA.

Those other threats are nonetheless very real.

And the level of threat, one fundamentally to the police officers of the PSNI, today higher than any time in five years.

In the last nine months, these dissident groups – the criminals who refuse to accept the will of the people of every community in Northern Ireland – these small but potentially deadly people have stepped up the targeting of police officers.

One example – an off duty officer, after dropping his child at school was shot five times in the chest at point blank range.

Thankfully he is alive.

Other attacks have been equally brutal, equally cowardly, equally pointless.

For these criminals have no support from the community on any side.

Until recently their ability to influence young misguided people found a counterweight with the evidence that politics was winning.

We must be careful that dissidents have no opportunity to exploit any vacuum, which may open if politics loses its momentum.

For this too is about community confidence.

Politics is Winning

There is no question of Northern Ireland going back.

But to go forward the Parties must continue working through their differences.

Their Leaders need to be supported in their acts of leadership, of courage and of faith.

Every step along the way has helped transform for the better the lives of each community in Northern Ireland.

What community is worse because of an end to the car bombs? Mortar attacks? The sniper’s shot? Or the work to address organized crime?

Politics is winning.

There is great cause for continued optimism and hope in Northern Ireland.

And if politics is seen to have won in Northern Ireland, then why not in the Middle East? In Zimbabwe? In Iraq?

Through our values and your will – through your belief things could in Northern Ireland be better – politics is winning.

With your help, your solidarity, it is my profound belief this Government, your Government, will help those in Northern Ireland achieve their fervent and brightest hopes.

And if we succeed – for Labour - it will truly be one of our finest achievements as a Government.

We work to finish the job.

Thank You.