Karen Bradley: 'I do not believe what I said about Troubles killings'
2 min read
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley is continuing to battle calls for her resignation as she distanced herself from controversial comments on the Troubles as "not what I believe".
The cabinet minister said there was "no excuse" for telling MPs that deaths during the conflict at the hands of British soldiers "were not crimes".
Despite calls to quit, including from victims’ families, Ms Bradley has rejected the move over her "heat of the moment" gaffe on Wednesday, and vowed to deliver for those she offended.
She told Sky News: "There’s no excuse. I said something in the House of Commons I shouldn’t have said, it’s factually wrong, it’s not what I believe and I’ve apologised because the idea I’ve caused distress and hurt to those families that I’ve met who have explained to me about their pain is devastating to me.
"I’m just incredibly sorry that I have put them through that."
The embattled Northern Ireland Secretary, who is today holding talks with families of those killed in the Troubles, accepted that there were growing calls for her to step down.
But she said: "I am now absolutely determined that I will deliver for those families."
Ms Bradley added: "As I say I want to deliver for them I want to make sure they see the justice they so rightly deserve, that’s why I launched the legacy consultation last year."
The minister said she had corrected the official Commons record once she realised her mistake.
A Downing Street spokesperson on Friday said it was right for Ms Bradley to apologise, while yesterday the Prime Minister continued to back Ms Bradley.
The latest upset comes just a week before a landmark decision will be taken over whether soldiers involved in the Bloody Sunday shootings will face prosecution.
Ms Bradley has previously drawn criticism after admitting having limited knowledge of Northern Ireland when she took the posting.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
