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Death of Martin McGuinness: reaction and tributes – politics live EU to decide its response to Brexit at special summit called for late April - Politics live
(35 minutes later)
11.29am GMT
11:29
Tusk says he wants to make Brexit process 'the least painful for the EU'
This is what Donald Tusk, president of the European council, said at his press conference about the special EU summit.
In view of what was announced in London yesterday I would like to inform you that I will call a European council on Saturday 29 April to adopt the guidelines for the Brexit talks.
I personally wish the UK hadn’t chosen to leave the EU. But the majority of British voters decided otherwise.
Therefore we must to do everything we can to make the process of divorce the least painful for the EU.
Our main priority for the negotiations must be to create as much certainty and clarity as possible for all citizens, companies and member states that will be negatively affected by Brexi, as well as our important partners and friends around the world.
And here are the key points.
Tusk calls special summit for Saturday 29 April where the EU 27 (the countries not leaving) will decide their Brexit negotiating strategy.
He says he wants to make the process “the least painful for the EU”.
He says his priority will be to create “as much certainty and clarity” for people, organisations and countries negatively affected by Brexit.
Tusk clearly did not get the memo from Theresa May about why she thinks Brexit is not a divorce.
And he clearly did not get the memo either from the 76 MPs, mostly pro-leave Tories, who have written to the BBC complaining about “despite Brexit” reporting - ie, reporting that presupposes Brexit will have negative consequences.
11.09am GMT
11:09
Tusk calls summit for Saturday 29 April so EU leaders can decide their approach to Brexit
Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, has just announced at a press conference in Brussels that he will call a summit of the 27 other EU countries on Saturday 29 April where they can consider their response to Theresa May’s triggering of article 50.
I will post his quotes shortly.
10.41am GMT10.41am GMT
10:4110:41
Here is Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, on Martin McGuinness.Here is Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, on Martin McGuinness.
Sad to learn of sudden passing of Martin McGuinness. His contribution to peace in Northern Ireland will endure. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.Sad to learn of sudden passing of Martin McGuinness. His contribution to peace in Northern Ireland will endure. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
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10.37am GMT10.37am GMT
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John Bruton, who was taoiseach from 1994 to 1997, has said he is sorry Martin McGuinness did not live to see complete reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He said:John Bruton, who was taoiseach from 1994 to 1997, has said he is sorry Martin McGuinness did not live to see complete reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He said:
Notwithstanding our profound political differences, I always found him to be a very friendly person and easy to talk to.Notwithstanding our profound political differences, I always found him to be a very friendly person and easy to talk to.
The good and warm personal relationship he developed with Ian Paisley set a very good example. But it has yet to be followed by a genuine political reconciliation between the two communities they represented.The good and warm personal relationship he developed with Ian Paisley set a very good example. But it has yet to be followed by a genuine political reconciliation between the two communities they represented.
It is sad that Martin will not be around to complete the important task he undertook.It is sad that Martin will not be around to complete the important task he undertook.
10.33am GMT10.33am GMT
10:3310:33
Later this morning Donald Tusk, president of the European council, is due to give the date when the other members of the EU will agree and announce their response to Theresa May triggering article 50. I’ll cover that as soon as it happens.Later this morning Donald Tusk, president of the European council, is due to give the date when the other members of the EU will agree and announce their response to Theresa May triggering article 50. I’ll cover that as soon as it happens.
10.05am GMT10.05am GMT
10:0510:05
Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister, has issued a tribute recalling his visit to the Northern Ireland assembly in 2007 to express support for Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness’s power-sharing administration. Here’s an extract:Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister, has issued a tribute recalling his visit to the Northern Ireland assembly in 2007 to express support for Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness’s power-sharing administration. Here’s an extract:
I gladly did so and found a remarkable partnership, which was the anchor of the institutions consolidating the peace process .I gladly did so and found a remarkable partnership, which was the anchor of the institutions consolidating the peace process .
The friendship which developed between them was real, enduring and profound, private as well as public and allowed Northern Ireland to move away from violence. They were both solid and continuing friends of Scotland.The friendship which developed between them was real, enduring and profound, private as well as public and allowed Northern Ireland to move away from violence. They were both solid and continuing friends of Scotland.
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9.53am GMT9.53am GMT
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And Alastair Campbell’s assessment of Martin McGuinness for the Guardian is well worth reading too. Here it is in full:And Alastair Campbell’s assessment of Martin McGuinness for the Guardian is well worth reading too. Here it is in full:
And here is an extract.And here is an extract.
At various moments during the years of negotiations that followed, Sinn Féin would frequently be exasperating, and some of us would lose our patience. Tony once suggested we should be a little more sympathetic to their difficulties, pointing out that they were going about this business with a not unreasonable fear that someone might put a bullet in their heads even for talking to us.At various moments during the years of negotiations that followed, Sinn Féin would frequently be exasperating, and some of us would lose our patience. Tony once suggested we should be a little more sympathetic to their difficulties, pointing out that they were going about this business with a not unreasonable fear that someone might put a bullet in their heads even for talking to us.
Whenever there is a terrorist attack politicians and media will rise as one to call it “a cowardly act”. But that means we should acknowledge the flipside too: what Martin McGuinness and the Sinn Féin leadership did in negotiating for peace took courage. Once he decided to make the change to pursuing democracy – and I believe he did so some years before New Labour came on the scene – I think he genuinely made the change. As time went on I saw somebody very different from the murderous hardman IRA commander image. I saw someone was was very human, very likeable, and dedicated to making the new path he had chosen work for the people he represented.Whenever there is a terrorist attack politicians and media will rise as one to call it “a cowardly act”. But that means we should acknowledge the flipside too: what Martin McGuinness and the Sinn Féin leadership did in negotiating for peace took courage. Once he decided to make the change to pursuing democracy – and I believe he did so some years before New Labour came on the scene – I think he genuinely made the change. As time went on I saw somebody very different from the murderous hardman IRA commander image. I saw someone was was very human, very likeable, and dedicated to making the new path he had chosen work for the people he represented.
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9.44am GMT9.44am GMT
09:4409:44
Here is my colleague Henry McDonald’s assessment of Martin McGuinness.Here is my colleague Henry McDonald’s assessment of Martin McGuinness.
And here is an extract.And here is an extract.
Trimble said he continued to monitor McGuinness’ career after he had left Northern Ireland. McGuinness’ capacity to seek compromise endured in the year running up to his death, Trimble acknowledged.Trimble said he continued to monitor McGuinness’ career after he had left Northern Ireland. McGuinness’ capacity to seek compromise endured in the year running up to his death, Trimble acknowledged.
He added: “I heard recently from a very senior government minister in Downing Street that they had to call in McGuinness last year to act as a peacemaker between London and the Scots Nats!He added: “I heard recently from a very senior government minister in Downing Street that they had to call in McGuinness last year to act as a peacemaker between London and the Scots Nats!
“On the joint ministerial council between the devolved governments of Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast – in cooperation with the national government in London – there was a lot of shouting, a lot of bad blood. It was caused by the Scottish nationalists roaring and ranting against central government representatives who eventually called in McGuinness for help.“On the joint ministerial council between the devolved governments of Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast – in cooperation with the national government in London – there was a lot of shouting, a lot of bad blood. It was caused by the Scottish nationalists roaring and ranting against central government representatives who eventually called in McGuinness for help.
“By contrast Martin McGuinness was calm and rational, and he helped turn down the temperature at that meeting.”“By contrast Martin McGuinness was calm and rational, and he helped turn down the temperature at that meeting.”
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9.39am GMT9.39am GMT
09:3909:39
Here’s the Guardian’s obituary of Martin McGuinness.Here’s the Guardian’s obituary of Martin McGuinness.
9.33am GMT9.33am GMT
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Henry McDonaldHenry McDonald
While Enda Kenny has led the warm tributes to Martin McGuinness among the Irish Republic’s political establishment there are a discordant voices in southern Ireland pointing out his record.While Enda Kenny has led the warm tributes to Martin McGuinness among the Irish Republic’s political establishment there are a discordant voices in southern Ireland pointing out his record.
Austin Stack’s prison officer father was murdered by the IRA in 1984 in the Irish Republic. His son has led a dogged campaign to demand the truth about what happened to his father and has personally confronted McGuinness about the murder in the past as did the son of an Irish Army soldier, Patrick Kelly, whom the IRA also killed in the 1980s.Austin Stack’s prison officer father was murdered by the IRA in 1984 in the Irish Republic. His son has led a dogged campaign to demand the truth about what happened to his father and has personally confronted McGuinness about the murder in the past as did the son of an Irish Army soldier, Patrick Kelly, whom the IRA also killed in the 1980s.
Stack, as spokesperson for the Independent Victims and Survivors Coalition, had this to say this morning on McGuinness’ legacy:Stack, as spokesperson for the Independent Victims and Survivors Coalition, had this to say this morning on McGuinness’ legacy:
While acknowledging Martin McGuinness’s passing it think it’s entirely appropriate to focus on all his legacy, not just the last few years. Let’s today remember McGuinness never acknowledged his many victims and in fact told Pte Paddy Kelly’s son “just move on you”. Pte Kelly was a brave Irish soldier who was rescuing Don Tidey when he was gunned down, the man who shot him stood over him and said “take that you Free State Bastard”.While acknowledging Martin McGuinness’s passing it think it’s entirely appropriate to focus on all his legacy, not just the last few years. Let’s today remember McGuinness never acknowledged his many victims and in fact told Pte Paddy Kelly’s son “just move on you”. Pte Kelly was a brave Irish soldier who was rescuing Don Tidey when he was gunned down, the man who shot him stood over him and said “take that you Free State Bastard”.
McGuinness had serious questions to answer regarding the Claudy bombing and Enniskillen bombing where many innocent civilians were murdered. He also is directly responsible for death of Frank Hegarty, a young man the IRA had exiled and who McGuinness told to come home only for him to be murdered within days. This is the real legacy of Martin McGuinness, he took what he knew about each of these cases to his grave. We should look at his real legacy in its totality.McGuinness had serious questions to answer regarding the Claudy bombing and Enniskillen bombing where many innocent civilians were murdered. He also is directly responsible for death of Frank Hegarty, a young man the IRA had exiled and who McGuinness told to come home only for him to be murdered within days. This is the real legacy of Martin McGuinness, he took what he knew about each of these cases to his grave. We should look at his real legacy in its totality.
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9.21am GMT9.21am GMT
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Bertie Ahern, who was taoiseach at the time of the Good Friday agreement, has told Ireland’s RTE Radio that Martin McGuinness was a good person.Bertie Ahern, who was taoiseach at the time of the Good Friday agreement, has told Ireland’s RTE Radio that Martin McGuinness was a good person.
He was a good person, in my view. He moved from a very difficult past where he took a particular side and he was a good person to negotiate with and certainly I considered him as a good friend as we went through 25 years of discussions.He was a good person, in my view. He moved from a very difficult past where he took a particular side and he was a good person to negotiate with and certainly I considered him as a good friend as we went through 25 years of discussions.
Ahern also said McGuinness had the ability to compromise.Ahern also said McGuinness had the ability to compromise.
In negotiations when there is a lot at stake and it can’t be winner takes all Martin understood compromise. He listened and he was able, I think, to arbitrate between different points of view.In negotiations when there is a lot at stake and it can’t be winner takes all Martin understood compromise. He listened and he was able, I think, to arbitrate between different points of view.
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9.14am GMT9.14am GMT
09:1409:14
Lord Tebbit, the former Conservative party chairman whose wife Margaret was paralysed when the IRA bombed the Grand hotel in Brighton during the Conservative party conference, and who was injured himself by the attack, has welcomed McGuinness’s death. He told the Press Association:Lord Tebbit, the former Conservative party chairman whose wife Margaret was paralysed when the IRA bombed the Grand hotel in Brighton during the Conservative party conference, and who was injured himself by the attack, has welcomed McGuinness’s death. He told the Press Association:
I’m just pleased that the world is a sweeter and cleaner place now.I’m just pleased that the world is a sweeter and cleaner place now.
He was not only a multi-murderer, he was a coward.He was not only a multi-murderer, he was a coward.
He knew that the IRA were defeated because British intelligence had penetrated right the way up to the army council and that the end was coming.He knew that the IRA were defeated because British intelligence had penetrated right the way up to the army council and that the end was coming.
He then sought to save his own skin and he knew that it was likely he would be charged before long with several murders, which he had personally committed, and he decided that the only thing to do was to opt for peace.He then sought to save his own skin and he knew that it was likely he would be charged before long with several murders, which he had personally committed, and he decided that the only thing to do was to opt for peace.
He claimed to be a Roman Catholic.He claimed to be a Roman Catholic.
I hope that his beliefs turn out to be true and he’ll be parked in a particularly hot and unpleasant corner of hell for the rest of eternity.I hope that his beliefs turn out to be true and he’ll be parked in a particularly hot and unpleasant corner of hell for the rest of eternity.
Tebbit said he refused to forgive McGuinness for his terrorist past because “forgiveness requires confession of sins and repentance”.Tebbit said he refused to forgive McGuinness for his terrorist past because “forgiveness requires confession of sins and repentance”.
“There was none of that,” Tebbit added.“There was none of that,” Tebbit added.
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9.08am GMT9.08am GMT
09:0809:08
Jeremy Corbyn has posted a tribute to Martin McGuinness on Twitter.Jeremy Corbyn has posted a tribute to Martin McGuinness on Twitter.
Martin McGuinness played a huge role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland. He was a great family man and my thoughts are with themMartin McGuinness played a huge role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland. He was a great family man and my thoughts are with them
9.05am GMT9.05am GMT
09:0509:05
John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor, tweeted this about Martin McGuinness earlier.John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor, tweeted this about Martin McGuinness earlier.
#MartinMcGuinness made the extraordinary leap from hate & violence to reconciliation. He deserves our praise.#MartinMcGuinness made the extraordinary leap from hate & violence to reconciliation. He deserves our praise.
Simpson was a correspondent for the BBC in Belfast in the 1970s and he has just been talking about McGuinness on the Today programme. He recalled being followed by McGuinness at one point in a Republican area at a time when McGuinness was known as “the butcher of Bogside”. Simpson said he was “absolutely terrified”.Simpson was a correspondent for the BBC in Belfast in the 1970s and he has just been talking about McGuinness on the Today programme. He recalled being followed by McGuinness at one point in a Republican area at a time when McGuinness was known as “the butcher of Bogside”. Simpson said he was “absolutely terrified”.
8.58am GMT8.58am GMT
08:5808:58
James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland secretary, has offered his condolences to Martin McGuinness’s family. His full tribute is here, on the department’s website, and here is an extract.James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland secretary, has offered his condolences to Martin McGuinness’s family. His full tribute is here, on the department’s website, and here is an extract.
Whilst passionate and robust in his politics, on a personal level I always found Martin to be thoughtful and reflective and appreciated the personal consideration he showed. The importance of family and his home in Derry shone through.Whilst passionate and robust in his politics, on a personal level I always found Martin to be thoughtful and reflective and appreciated the personal consideration he showed. The importance of family and his home in Derry shone through.
Martin will be remembered for his contribution to politics in Northern Ireland and particularly during his near ten years as deputy first minister.Martin will be remembered for his contribution to politics in Northern Ireland and particularly during his near ten years as deputy first minister.
8.53am GMT8.53am GMT
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Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, has highlighted Martin McGuinness’s meeting with the Queen in his tribute to the former deputy first minister. Farron said:Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, has highlighted Martin McGuinness’s meeting with the Queen in his tribute to the former deputy first minister. Farron said:
Martin McGuinness, for all his past, became a statesman. One moment sticks with me, the remarkable – and unlikely – images of McGuinness’ when he shook the hand of the Queen on her visit to Belfast in 2012. This single picture epitomised the changes in Northern Ireland.Martin McGuinness, for all his past, became a statesman. One moment sticks with me, the remarkable – and unlikely – images of McGuinness’ when he shook the hand of the Queen on her visit to Belfast in 2012. This single picture epitomised the changes in Northern Ireland.
The historic handshake with the Queen in the quest for peace. This is something I, and millions of others, are thankful for. Peace in Northern Ireland is down, in part, to his leadership of the Republican community.The historic handshake with the Queen in the quest for peace. This is something I, and millions of others, are thankful for. Peace in Northern Ireland is down, in part, to his leadership of the Republican community.