Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has expressed his personal disappointment that Ivan Lewis MP has been stood down as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary by the new Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn MP.

Paying tribute to Mr Lewis’s contribution as Shadow Secretary, Mr Nesbitt said:

“As recently as last Tuesday, Ivan made a massively positive contribution by stating his belief that Northern Ireland’s mental health and wellbeing issues entitled us to additional funding from the UK Government, above and beyond the Barnett Formula which determines our Block Grant from Treasury. I, of course, agree, as wellbeing is a key to transforming our society for the better.

“Ivan did not make the call out of the blue, but as a result of the evidence-gathering undertaken by the Commission he appointed to make practical suggestions about tackling long-term poverty and social exclusion. The Commission joint chairs, Deirdre Heenan and Colin Anderson, both reported that every community they met identified mental wellbeing as a key problem that was unaddressed.

“My last contact with Ivan was yesterday, when I asked him to pass on my request for an urgent meeting with Jeremy Corbyn. As a democrat, I respect Mr Corbyn’s new-found mandate, but I am also entitled to express grave concerns about what he might do with it and I believe he owes me a hearing, given his recent public comments regarding the IRA and his longer term position regarding Northern Ireland.

“I would have thought the current crisis at Stormont would not have been damaged by keeping in post a man who has proved his commitment to working with all the parties to find the elusive route to a properly peaceful society, led by a devolved government that actually delivers positive outcomes for all its people. That is clearly not to be and I wish Ivan Lewis well as the next chapter of his career beckons. Whatever that is, I fully expect it will be a success.”