Member

Liberal Democrat new clause 12 was tabled by the hon. Member for Wimbledon. A duty to promote reconciliation is often overlooked. The old legacy Act had a reconciliation part to it; it was at the tail end, and it never gets focused on in this Chamber. That is a challenge for us all. It is a challenge for those in Northern Ireland who wish to reconcile, but do not want that to mean appeasement, or not having the right to stand up for our values. We need to hear some repentance for, or forgiveness of, the hurt done to people across our societies. I am not ascribing blame, but recognising that there is hurt on these issues, and a need for reconciliation. The Government’s mantra used to be that it is not for Governments to reconcile one person’s heart to another’s, but they certainly can provide the right basis and foundation for that to happen.