British Secretary of State ‘pressed’ on prisoners and economic policy
Sinn Fein Deputy Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Councillor Patrick McDonald, used the opportunity of a visit to the area by the newly appointed Secretary of State, Teresa Villiers MP, to raise British government economic policy and the treatment of prisoners with her.
Speaking to Newry Times, Councillor McDonald stated;
“The British government’s treatment of Marion Price is widely considered to be vindictive and contrary to human rights and Sinn Fein repeatedly challenged the previous Secretary of State, Owen Patterson, on this.
“Teresa Villiers needs to undo the mistakes of her predecessor in relation to Marion Price and other prisoners who are entitled to fair treatment.”
He added, “I also pressed the Secretary of State on the need for the transfer of economic powers to the Assembly, particularly the power to set the rate of Corporation Tax. British government economic policy is crafted with no regard to the economic circumstances in this part of Ireland, as the plans for a levy on the road haulage industry show.
“The Assembly needs to be in control of economic and fiscal levers so we can plan recovery based on an all-Ireland economic model”
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What exactly does Pressed mean ? Is this the new SF lingo for demanded, something they haven`t done in a very long time unless its concerning the search of a members home. Surely what Marian has been put through deserves at least the same commitment as that aportained to the above mentioned member, who had weeks earlier said as Mayor of Derry that the police were only doing their job in relation to house raids in the area.