THE IRA's attempts to disrupt the election campaign in Britain will not succeed. The British people wilt not be moved by terrorism. Nor will a new Labour government. We will be firm and resolute in the face of violence.
When he came to Northern Ireland in November 1995, the US President, Mr Bill Clinton, told the men of violence: "You are the past". He is right. The debate has moved on. With the exception of Sinn Fein, every other party in the UK and in Ireland now accepts that there can be no change in the status of Northern Ireland without the consent of a majority of the people living there.
Perhaps Sinn Fein's ambivalence about violence reflects its small electoral base. But democracy requires that even the smallest party pursue its aims through methods: that are exclusively peaceful. It is a lesson that Sinn Fein must learn before it will earn the right to sit and talk with other democratic parties in Northern Ireland.
There must be a genuine ceasefire from the IRA. It must be proven to be genuine in both word and deed. The appalling campaign of terrorism and threats we are now witnessing in Britain will make its task of convincing people that it is genuine all the more difficult. If it does, then - and only then - could Sinn Fein be asked to sign up to Senator Mitchell's principles of democracy and non violence and take its place at the talks table.
Labour has fully supported the establishment of the current talks process. I believe our bipartisan approach has been wholly responsible and right. The agreements between the two governments in Britain and Ireland provide the backdrop to the process. It is now up to the Northern Ireland parties - working with the two governments and the independent chairs of the talks - to find agreement.
There is now general acceptance that the future of Northern Ireland must be determined by the consent of the people as set out in the Downing Street Declaration.
Like the two governments, Labour recognises that the option of a united Ireland does not command the consent of the unionist tradition, nor does the existing status of Northern Ireland command the consent of the nationalist tradition. We are, therefore, committed to reconciliation between the two traditions and to a new political settlement which can command the support of both.
LABOUR will continue along the path that the two governments have laid out, working with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland parties. We recognise the progress inside the talks is linked to the building of trust between the communities outside. Trust is largely absent at the moment. Labour will take positive steps to help build trust and improve confidence.
Mo Mowlam has made clear proposals in this area, like guaranteed basic rights through the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights: new steps to combat discrimination at work: and improving community identification with policing.
Progress on the parades issues will also play an important part in building up confidence in Northern Ireland. No one has any interest in a repeat of the events surrounding the Drumcree parade last year. Labour will do all we can to encourage dialogue and facilitate local agreement on contested parades.
The recommendations in the North Report are designed to help settle local disputes and we will implement them. Labour is determined - this and every year - that the rule of law will be upheld.
The period of the IRA ceasefire showed how Northern Ireland's competitive advantage as an economy can shine through when given the chance. The policies of a new Labour government will help too. We will nurture investment in industry, skills, infrastructure and new technologies. We will attack long term unemployment. Young people especially need our help through raised standards in schools and new opportunities to train and to work.
The direct rule of Northern Ireland from Westminster is a far from ideal arrangement. We hope a new, three stranded agreement will replace it. More open and accountable ways need to be found of allowing local people from both communities to work together and share power in the interests of all. More openness and transparency is also needed in the workings of the Anglo Irish Agreement and its mechanisms.
Labour's election manifesto is clear and realistic throughout. It is not for a Labour government to dictate what the final outcome of any negotiations should be. That has been part of the change in all our attitudes. We will work for a new settlement that is fair to both communities and that both can support.
My pledge to the people of Northern Ireland is that there will be as great a priority attached to seeing this process through with Labour as under the Conservatives. We will expect the same bipartisan approach from a Conservative opposition We will be relentless in our opposition to terrorism and our pursuit of those who perpetrate it. We will look to both traditions in Northern Ireland to seek out the common ground between them and to build a new and peaceful future upon it.
