NORTHERN IRELAND’S new Secretary of State has managed to anger some citizens already.
Just eight days into his new position, Julian Smith has divided opinion and gotten tempers flaring when he tweeted a photograph of Queen Elizabeth form his new office. He said:
“Proud to have a picture of Her Majesty The Queen on the mantle piece of my private office at Stormont. I was delighted to see it there when I arrived last Friday.”
Proud to have a picture of Her Majesty The Queen on the mantle
piece of my private office at Stormont. I was delighted to see it there when I arrived last Friday. pic.twitter.com/wYbgNwRvWO— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) August 1, 2019
At a time where Brexit has brought uncertainty back to Northern Ireland, English newspaper The Daily Telegraph throwing insults at Irish leaders, and with political relationships between Ireland and the UK seeming to get rockier by the day, many found Mr Smith’s post to be unnecessarily inflammatory, with people on both sides arguing he should be trying to unite people rather than divide them further.
Of to a great start. Neutrality out the window, wind the fenians up in full flow.
— Mark (@markomac311) August 1, 2019
Sir, I’m an ardent fan of Her Majesty that’s why I can guarantee she would prefer you starting dealing with the multitude of difficult issues that exist in Northern Ireland and perhaps put the lack of Royal Portraits as something for FUTURE reference. There’s PEACE at stake here
— Eileen M Cumiskey (@cumiskey55) August 1, 2019
It was his first tweet since being appointed to the position of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Others made reference to the fact that last week, the Northern Ireland Office said that photographs of the Queen would not be visible in Stormont in order not to offend those citizens with Irish identities and who do not recognise the Queen as having sovereignty over them.
This is likely why the Secretary emphasised that the photograph was in his private office-- but begs the question of why he bothered to tweet it in the first place, knowing opinion was divided around the subject.
Secretary of State, Can you clarify when that photo was placed there? Last week, referring to images such as those of the Queen, NIO minister Lord Duncan told the House of Lords the NIO "takes steps to ensure no such images are displayed in Stormont House". When did that change?
— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) August 1, 2019
Exasperated commenters made sarcastic suggestions to how Mr Smith could remain impartial—such as by placing a photograph of the President of Ireland alongside it.
For balance you should have one of the President of Ireland as well.
— Mark. (@deirbhilesdaddy) August 1, 2019
The good thing about Michael D is that you can get a full size photo of him on a mantle piece.
— lincolnsquirrel (@lincolnsquirre1) August 1, 2019
It’s certainly a memorable start for the new Secretary.
His predecessor, Karen Bradley, also drew criticism and mockery during her incumbency when she revealed she had no idea that Nationalists wouldn’t vote for Unionist parties and vice-versa.
Ms Bradley had never set foot in Northern Ireland before beginning her position.
First week in the job and Johnson's NI lackey makes Karen Bradley look a genius. Now you wouldn't have seen that coming.
— Ray Thomson (British subject/Ex-citizen of the EU) (@iichroma) August 1, 2019
With both Ireland and the UK bracing itself for the ever-increasing possibility of a no-deal Brexit, the situation for both countries looks set to get worse before it gets better.
