Brown 'to continue NI peace policies'

Gordon Brown will continue Tony Blair’s peace process policies in the North if he succeeds him as Britain's Prime Minister, it was claimed tonight.

As Northern Ireland’s politicians prepared for crucial talks next week to retore devolution, it emerged Ulster Secretary Peter Hain hinted today Mr Brown would make this clear soon to the province’s politicians.

A source at the Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group’s annual general meeting in Hillsborough castle told The Press Association: “Last week, Peter Hain said the (Rev Ian Paisley’s) Democratic Unionists would be making a mistake if they believed they would get a better deal under Gordon Brown than they would under Tony Blair.

“He went further today at our annual general meeting, saying people should expect to hear something clearer from Gordon Brown soon.”

Government sources confirmed tonight the Chancellor of the Exchequer could indicate within weeks his determination to see Mr Blair’s policies implemented in Northern Ireland.

It is understood Mr Brown may signal this in a letter to political leaders.

After meeting Mr Brown at Stormont in June, Mr Paisley said he believed the Chancellor had a deeper understanding of Northern Ireland and of unionism.

“He is a Scotsman and he knows more about the real basic differences that do exist in Northern Ireland,” the DUP leader observed.

“He has always been very sympathetic. He has always taken the time to go the second mile.”

However nationalists also noted during the visit Mr Brown stuck rigidly to Government policy, warning Assembly members the Government expected the November 24 deadline set by Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for restoring devolution would be met.

The Chancellor told them: “This is not a date plucked out of the air.

“This is a real deadline and a deadline we expect to be met.”