MP for Bootle to resolve Ballymurphy feud?

For most MPs the news that a MP from another constituency, never mind another party and country, was attempting to resolve a long-running and violent dispute in their area would be a source of embarrassment.. at least. But according to the BBC report, Joe Benton, the Labour Party MP for Bootle in Liverpool – who has been briefed on the issue by the British Irish Rights Watch group – has become involved in attempts to resolve the long-running and violent dispute in Ballymurphy. Any questions about how this would reflect on the area’s actual MP would no doubt fall into the ‘stupid’ category..

We are reader supported. Donate to keep Slugger lit!

For over 20 years, Slugger has been an independent place for debate and new ideas. We have published over 40,000 posts and over one and a half million comments on the site. Each month we have over 70,000 readers. All this we have accomplished with only volunteers we have never had any paid staff.

Slugger does not receive any funding, and we respect our readers, so we will never run intrusive ads or sponsored posts. Instead, we are reader-supported. Help us keep Slugger independent by becoming a friend of Slugger. While we run a tight ship and no one gets paid to write, we need money to help us cover our costs.

If you like what we do, we are asking you to consider giving a monthly donation of any amount, or you can give a one-off donation. Any amount is appreciated.