David Cameron told delegates at the Conservative Party Conference that “the dream of Conservative representation from Northern Ireland in the House of Commons is very much alive”. The Prime Minister was attending an NI Conservatives’ reception at the event in Birmingham.
Mr Cameron emphasised “I am completely committed to the whole of the United Kingdom and I am completely committed to seeing Northern Irish Conservatives succeed in Northern Ireland.”
The Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers, echoed the Conservative leader’s words, “I salute the work that the NI Conservatives’ chairman has been doing on the ground. I want to emphasise that as Secretary of State I will never be neutral on the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
NI Conservatives chairman, Irwin Armstrong, spelled out the Conservative values which he said will “unleash a common sense revolution in Northern Irish politics”.
“Rewarding hard work, unleashing enterprise and helping business create jobs, protecting the vulnerable, encouraging strong families and building a strong and integrated community. We believe in Northern Ireland and we will work tirelessly to show voters that we can represent them, from council level, right through to the cabinet table.”
Conservative Party chairman, Lord Feldman, and 1922 committee chair, Graham Brady, also attended the event.