Stormont votes to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland
Stormont votes to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland
Tuesday, 09, Mar 2010 05:24
By Sarah Garrod.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted to devolve powers on policing and justice from Westminster.
The vote was overwhelmingly in favour of devolving powers to Northern Ireland, with three of the four parties voting to take control of the police and courts from next month.
The Ulster Unionists party (UUP) voted against the devolved powers, despite lobbying from former US president George W Bush. The Democratic Unionists party and Sinn Fein both voted in favour of the changes, which have followed lengthy negotiations.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "The completion of devolution, supported by all sections of the community in Northern Ireland, is the final end to decades of strife.
"It sends the most powerful message to those who would return to violence: that democracy and tolerance will prevail."
Earlier today Mr Bush had called on Conservative party leader David Cameron to help secure the UUP vote to support the transfer of power. The Tory party has an electoral pact with the UUP, but Mr Cameron responded to Mr Bush by explaining that as the leader of a different political party he could not wield decisive influence over the UUP.
A poll prior to the vote showed that around 72 per cent of people in Northern Ireland support the proposed transfer of responsibilities.