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Keir Starmer has called on Boris Johnson to convene all-party talks to bring an end to violent scenes in Northern Ireland, accusing the prime minister of being “absent” during several nights of disorder which have left 55 police officers injured.
The call came as the province’s political parties united to urge an end to attacks on the police and respect for the rule of law in an emergency session of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.
Following a meeting with chief constable Simon Byrne, the power-sharing executive issued a joint statement calling for a halt to the riots.
Recent days have seen a bus hijacked and torched and masked teenagers hurling petrol bombs and missiles over peace walls in actions which police say were likely to have been “orchestrated” by proscribed paramilitary organisations.
In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Mr Johnson said he was “deeply concerned” by the scenes of violence, adding: “The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.”
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But Sir Keir today said the prime minister must take a more active role.
“I think everybody with responsibility in Northern Ireland needs to condemn the violence in no uncertain terms,” said the Labour leader during an election campaign visit to Bristol.
“I think the prime minister has to convene all-party talks. This is about leadership and the prime minister can’t be absent.
“He needs to convene talks urgently in Northern Ireland to find pragmatic and political solutions to reduce this violence.”
Addressing the Stormont Assembly by video-link, first minister Arlene Foster said the scenes witnessed in towns and cities across Northern Ireland were “totally unacceptable”.
“We should all know that when politics fail or are perceived to be failing in Northern Ireland, those who fill the vacuum offer destruction and despair,” said the DUP leader, who has previously led calls for Mr Byrne’s resignation over police handling of breaches of coronavirus rules at the funeral of an IRA leader.
She added: “We cannot allow a new generation of our young people to fall victim to that path or be preyed upon by some who prefer the shadows to the light. Political problems require political solutions, never street violence.
“Northern Ireland is faced with a number of deep and significant poltical challenges in the time ahead, and collectively we must work through those challenges.”
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