Cross-party anger over peerage for woman whose former party backed IRA Warrington bomb

Senior Tory and Labour figures have expressed outrage after a woman who supported the IRA bombing of Warrington was appointed to the House of Lords.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 8th Aug 2020, 06:30 BST
Claire Fox has drawn intense criticism since being awarded a peerage. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)Claire Fox has drawn intense criticism since being awarded a peerage. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)
Claire Fox has drawn intense criticism since being awarded a peerage. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, Tory, Lord Lexden and Labour’s shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Louise Haigh, have both condemned the appointment of Claire Fox.

Mrs Fox, who represented the Brexit Party in Brussels, was formerly a senior activist in the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP).

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At the time of the attack on Warrington, an RCP newsletter stated that the party defended “the right of the Irish people to take whatever measures necessary in their struggle for freedom”.

Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry.Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry.
Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry.

Mrs Fox has not apologised for her position at the time but this week said she does not condone violence.

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Lord Lexden described himself as a former adviser to Airey Neave and friend of Ian Gow, Tory MPs who were killed by the INLA in 1979 and IRA in 1990 respectively.

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Deputy Speaker of the Lords, Lord Lexden, condemned the Prime Minister for the appointment.Deputy Speaker of the Lords, Lord Lexden, condemned the Prime Minister for the appointment.
Deputy Speaker of the Lords, Lord Lexden, condemned the Prime Minister for the appointment.

He said: “By elevating her, Boris Johnson has shown indifference to the memory of all those who died, and to the grief of all those  suffered, to uphold Northern Ireland’s right to remain part of our United Kingdom in accordance with the wishes of a majority of its people. Those who paid the ultimate price included prominent members of the Conservative and Unionist Party.”

Meanwhile, Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh called the peerage “astonishingly offensive” as she visited the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation in Warrington yesterday.

The charity, set up after three-year-old Johnathan and 12-year-old Tim were killed in the Warrington attack in 1993, had its government funding stopped in March.

Warrington North Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who was also on the visit, said the appointment had caused “absolute revulsion” in the town.

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Victim support worker Terry O'Hara, Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Louise Haigh and chief executive of the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation Nick in Warrington. A peerage awarded to a politician who supported the IRA bombing of Warrington has been branded a "double slap in the face" as a charity set up after the attack faces a funding crisis. PA Photo.Victim support worker Terry O'Hara, Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Louise Haigh and chief executive of the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation Nick in Warrington. A peerage awarded to a politician who supported the IRA bombing of Warrington has been branded a "double slap in the face" as a charity set up after the attack faces a funding crisis. PA Photo.
Victim support worker Terry O'Hara, Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Louise Haigh and chief executive of the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation Nick in Warrington. A peerage awarded to a politician who supported the IRA bombing of Warrington has been branded a "double slap in the face" as a charity set up after the attack faces a funding crisis. PA Photo.

Ms Fox told the Mirror this week: “Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, I do not support or defend the IRA’s killing of two young boys in Warrington in 1993.”

She does “not believe there is any justification for violence in Ireland today” she said, describing the killing of the two boys as “a terrible tragedy”. The Good Friday Agreement drew a line under the conflict she said, adding: “It’s surely time to move on”. The News Letter invited her to comment.

The House of Lords Commission said it advises the Prime Minister of its vetting research but has no power to veto appointments.

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