Julian Smith: Focus on governing not border urges former NI secretary
Former secretary of state Julian Smith has said he hopes NI politicians focus on governing for the people, not on issues around the future of the border. He was speaking during an interview for Radio Ulster's Talkback programme. Mr Smith was secretary of state for 204 days, helping to restore devolution in January after a three-year impasse. He was replaced by Brandon Lewis just five weeks later, but told Talkback he would continue to help Northern Ireland any way he could. Mr Smith said there were some "extremely talented" assembly members in Northern Ireland. "I think the biggest message and the biggest thing that I hope will happen is that, over and above the constitutional debates, in the back of every politician's mind is that they stood on the sidelines for three years and didn't lead despite being paid and service the interests of the people of Northern Ireland," he said. "I think if all parties focus on governing now - yes have a debate on constitutional issues and obviously there are big topics there - but there's a lot that can be done on the north-south bodies, on climate change, on infrastructure." He added: "I was really struck when we did the Stormont deal, people were literally coming up to me in the street and just thanking me for getting it back up and running. "That was because, not that they didn't have views on the constitution, but at the moment the focus needs to be on getting stuff done, whether it's education, healthcare, whatever." Mr Smith said he was "delighted and over the moon" when the parties agreed to return to Stormont and said the importance of devolution had been shown by the way the executive had dealt with the coronavirus pandemic. "If we'd gone in to either no deal [Brexit] last year without some form of governance or this pandemic without a government we would have had major issues," he said. "So I think the biggest thing is to applaud all those political leaders for getting through that period." Mr Smith said the day he was appointed Northern Ireland secretary he'd had "far too many beers" after going to the pub when he lost his job as Conservative chief whip, but that he was honoured to take the job. He said getting the executive back up and running was the first priority. "Those early weeks were frustrating because the political parties were really not engaging and there was ebbing and flowing between Sinn Fein and the DUP in their levels of enthusiasm," he said. Mr Smith said he was not bitter about being replaced as secretary of state and he continued to have an interest in Northern Ireland. "I'm really committed long-term to doing anything that's needed to assist a part of the UK that has been through the most horrendous times, that when I was a child was on the television every night," he said. "I was then given this opportunity to help as secretary of state and I will continue to help in the best way I can. "What potential it has, the young people, the hope for the future - the need is to really focus on what matters and that is about people, understanding people, trusting people, working with people." The full interview is available via BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme on BBC Sounds. Julian Smith sacked as NI secretary MPs pass long-awaited abuse compensation bill Morocco rescuers dig with bare hands as foreign aid sent US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' A Serbian scientist's long quest to name Srebrenica's dead How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans. Video The spongy creatures cleaning Zanzibar's oceans Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.