FAMILY PHOTO..Marin McGuinness, Nicola Sturgeon and Enda Kenny at today’s Brexit meeting in Wales
SINN Fein Foyle MLA Martin McGuinness has questioned why Prime Minister Theresa May did not attend a Brexit-themed meeting today of the British and Irish Council.
Leaders from the three devolved nations, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny, gathered in Wales to discuss regional concerns surrounding free trade.
The deputy First Minister said Ms May should also have been at the Cardiff talks on Friday, given the topics at hand.
Martin McGuinness went on: “She is a new British Prime Minister, this was her first opportunity to attend the meeting of the British Irish Council and to meet with the devolved institutions and the Crown dependencies and I think it was a missed opportunity on her behalf.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon echoed the Sinn Féin politician’s call, adding: “I agree strongly with that.”
The BIC summit is held twice a year and UK prime ministers have attended in the past, but not on a regular basis.
While there were no senior Cabinet members at the talks, four UK Government ministers did attend, including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire.
Asked about Theresa May’s absence, Mr Brokenshire said: “The Prime Minister strongly supports the British Irish Council.
“That’s why you had two Cabinet ministers and two other ministers here today strongly representing the UK government’s perspective.”
