Labour conference: Drumcree parade resolution ‘not going to be easy’, says secretary of state

The secretary of state for Northern Ireland has warned that a resolution to the Drumcree parading dispute was “not going to be easy” but said the government would “go the extra mile for peace”.

Sir Chris Bryant said the situation was “tense” and added that “nobody wants Northern Ireland to return to the 1990s”.

Protesters remained on the Garvaghy Road overnight, while Orangemen also maintained a presence at Drumcree church, but were smaller in number than previous nights.

Sir Chris was speaking at the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool ahead of returning to Northern Ireland on Tuesday afternoon for further talks.

The main parties involved in the dispute in Northern Ireland are still in a stalemate, following a day of political talks and heated exchanges at Stormont.

Talks to resolve the issue took place on Monday as members of the Orange Order waited to begin their permitted parade, which was due to take place on Sunday morning, and walk down the mainly-nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

In his conference speech, Sir Chris said he “wanted to shout out that Northern Ireland is being transformed”.

“That’s the speech I wanted to give. But the situation in Drumcree is tense, and this government, like every Labour government, will always go the extra mile for peace,” he said.