WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for him to apologise over the ennoblement of Claire Fox and its impact on the town, as it approaches the 28th anniversary of the IRA bomb attack on Bridge Street.
It follows a news story over the weekend that discovered journalist Roy Greenslade’s support for IRA violence in the 1980s and 1990s.
Responding to the Greenslade story, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson- on behalf of the Prime Minister- said: “the PM outright condemns his comments as I have said specifically those about the killing of civilians.”
Ms Nichols said: “There is a clear hypocrisy here- this is the same Prime Minister who allowed Claire Fox to be elevated to the House of Lords in spite of her formerly being a leading member of the Revolutionary Communist Party and has never apologised for their defence of the Warrington bombings.
“When I discuss this issue with Warrington residents I feel the palpable disgust within our community that this has been allowed to happen.
“The Prime Minister cannot simply bring this up when it is convenient for him, he must explain why he did not block her elevation and apologise to the people of Warrington for his inaction. I will keep Warrington residents update when I receive a response.”
Peace campaigner Colin Parry OBE, whose 12-year-old son Tim died along with three-year-old Johnathan Ball following the IRA bomb attack on March 20 1993 has also hit out at the journalist’s support for the IRA as “inexcusable and contemptible.”
Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball
He tweeted:”supporting Irish Republicanism is a political choice but @GreensladeR ’s support for the IRA’s campaign of violence leading to the murder of many non-combatants like my 12 yr old son Tim, I find inexcusable and contemptible.”
The former Guardian columnist recently revealed his long-held support of the IRA’s murderous bombing campaigns.
Greenslade, who edited the Daily Mirror and held a top job at The Sun, secretly wrote for the republican newsletter An Phoblacht and even provided bail surety for an IRA man accused of involvement in the 1982 Hyde Park bombing.
While his republican views first emerged some years ago, he “came out of hiding” in an article at the weekend for the British Journalism Review saying he was in ‘complete agreement about the right of the Irish people to engage in armed struggle’, adding: ‘I supported the use of physical force.’
Former Brexit Euro MEP Claire Fox was sworn in as a member of the House of Lords last year.
She was a leading member of the Revolutionary Communist Party and has never apologised for their defence of the Warrington bombings in the days after the event in March 1993, which claimed the lives of 12-year-old Tim Parry and three-year-old Johnathan Ball, while also injuring more than 50 people out shopping the day before Mother’s Day.
Charlotte Nichols MP
Dear Prime Minister,
RE: Ennoblement of Claire Fox
I am writing following your condemnation yesterday of the journalist Roy Greenslade for his support of
IRA violence in the 1980s and 1990s. I note that your official spokesman has said: “All I can say is the
simple fact that the PM outright condemns his comments, as I have said specifically those about the
killing of civilians.”
You will understand how seriously and personally my constituents take these matters. The 1993
bombings are not forgotten, and Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball are still mourned.
As you know, Claire Fox was a leading member of the Revolutionary Communist Party and has never
apologised for their defence of the Warrington bombings. Despite this, you allowed her to be elevated
to the House of Lords. I wrote to you after her nomination once Lord Bew had confirmed on behalf of
the Lords Appointment Committee that you had the power to block her, but you chose not to do so.
I am aware that she was not a Conservative nomination and does not sit on the government benches,
but frankly this is not what angers my constituents. They believe that somebody with her unapologetic
views about the murder of children in Warrington should not be given the honour, prestige and power
of a place in the House of Lords. I agree with them and am angered that you did not takes the steps
available to you to prevent this.
Her views are no less repugnant than those of Mr Greenslade. I hope that you will now take this
opportunity to be consistent, condemn her position, explain why you did not block her elevation, and
apologise to the people of Warrington for your inaction.
Following Boris Johnson’s comments yesterday regarding the journalist Roy Greenslade, I have written to him regarding the peerage of Claire Fox which he made no attempt to block when it was entirely within his gift to do so.
Warrington still awaits its apology for his inaction. pic.twitter.com/vd2Oc6sNIB
— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) March 2, 2021
supporting Irish Republicanism is a political choice but @roygreenslade’s support for the IRA’s campaign of violence leading to the murder of many non combatants like my 12 yr old son Tim, i find inexcusable and contemptible
— Colin Parry OBE (@ColinParryPeace) March 2, 2021
