‘Legacy announcements should be made to Parliament, not media’ - Swann

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has written to the Speaker of the House of Commons to express his concern that Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP continues to announce Legacy plans to the media, rather than in Parliament. Following Benn’s recent announcement, Mr Swann said:

“Once again, the Secretary of State has used a press conference in Northern Ireland to make a significant announcement on legacy, rather than in the House of Commons where he can be held to account and questioned by elected Members of Parliament. I see this as nothing but contempt for the democratic accountability process. It is also notable, and now looks to be deliberate, that he waited until the start of the Conference Recess, when Parliament was not sitting.

“This is not the first time this has happened. I had previously raised the matter with the Leader of the House and was assured that updates would be brought to MPs first.”

In July, Mr Swann asked the then-Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell MP:

“Has the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland given the Leader of the House notification that he intends to make a statement to the House next Monday on how legacy matters in Northern Ireland will proceed? If he has, can she give this House an assurance that it will be made in this place, and not at a press conference in Belfast?”

Ms Powell, now a Labour Deputy Leader contender, responded:

“I can absolutely assure the hon. Member that the Secretary of State takes seriously his obligation makes statements on these kind of matters to this House, and to this House first. He will bring forward those statements as he progresses that dialogue to get these issues right over the coming weeks.”

Mr Swann commented today:

“It’s incredibly disappointing that the Secretary of State has not brought these statements, as he progresses, to the House where he can face scrutiny from Northern Ireland MPs and those from across the UK.”