Blair to set out MI5 role in North

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will today define MI5’s future role in the North in a bid to secure Sinn Féin support for the North’s police.

As members of Sinn Féin’s National Executive prepared for a crucial meeting on Saturday to decide whether they should proceed with plans for a special party conference on policing, Mr Blair is expected to carve out distinct roles for MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on intelligent gathering and civic policing.