It is a pity that Julian Smith was not sacked before he was appointed

Julian Smith admitting that he was drunk when he was offered the Northern Ireland job would seem to mean he was drunk when he accepted it (September 1).
By Letters
Published 3rd Sep 2020, 13:23 BST
Updated 3rd Sep 2020, 14:15 BST
Julian Smith, above with the Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney, left, at Stormont. Mr Smith did away with the three strands in the talksJulian Smith, above with the Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney, left, at Stormont. Mr Smith did away with the three strands in the talks
Julian Smith, above with the Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney, left, at Stormont. Mr Smith did away with the three strands in the talks

(News report can be read here: ‘Smith was drunk when PM appointed him to NI’).

He seems to have rubbed off on some unionist politicians who ended up agreeing with doing away with the three-strand approach and accepting what we now call the New Decade-New Approach deal.

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He was even able to throw a legacy agreement into the mix that Dublin will use to beat the British over the head.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

It is a pity Boris Johnson did not sack Smith before he started, rather than later on, as he was bad news for unionists.

Maybe he was put here to do the dirty deed and then be removed.

There is little doubt that some unionists would have agreed with much in order to get their full pay back.

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Now MLAs are set for a pay rise and their office staff (some family members) are about to become some of the best paid in Northern Ireland.

They are set to get more than some junior doctors and no doubt other people who have had to spend years qualifying.

We have yet to see all the consequences of the New Decade-New Approach deal.

I for one do not think they will be in the favour of anyone pro-British.

John Mulholland, Doagh

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Related topics:Northern IrelandMLAsBoris Johnson