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In an increasingly desperate pursuit of his political agenda, to rile up certain Unionists, is Tory monarchist and arch-loyalist Murdo Fraser MSP resiling from his past remarks praising the qualities of the late queen, Elizabeth?

In The Scotsman (September 13, 2022): ‘King Charles needs no better role model than the late Queen Elizabeth – Murdo Fraser MSP’.

‘The tremendous outpouring of national grief and emotion we have seen over the past few days has been a recognition from a generally unemotional nation of the lengthy and enduring service provided by Queen Elizabeth over the 70 years of her reign.’ (my emphasis)

Who is this British monarch that Mr Fraser was praising only a few year ago?

This was the Daily Mail’s response back on June 17, 2012 to the same monarch’s meeting with a leading Sinn Fein politician: ‘With a handshake, the Queen forgives: She greets Martin McGuinness – the man who headed terror army that murdered her beloved cousin – and even manages a smile‘.

We’re told by the Mail: ‘… the Queen momentously shook hands with one of the terror group’s former commanders, Martin McGuinness. Not once, but twice.’ And: ‘The gesture of mutual acceptance and acknowledgement was an astonishing act of forgiveness by the 86-year-old monarch who adored her ‘Uncle Dickie’. Her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, a nephew of Lord Mountbatten, also offered his hand yesterday. Philip was exceptionally close to his uncle and took news of his murder in 1979 hard.’

The article quotes an ‘insider’: ‘The Queen was relaxed, animated and interested to hear what Mr McGuinness had to say,’ And: ‘She has been very open to this meeting for sometime, particularly after her ground-breaking visit to Dublin last year.’

Tory Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson is also quoted, saying of the day: ‘This will move Northern Ireland on to a whole new plane. It is about a shared future. None of this could have happened a few years ago.’

The above meeting and associated remarks about accepting, acknowledging and moving on to a ‘whole new plane’ happened, let’s recall, way back in 2012. Fraser’s efforts to rile Unionists against a Scottish FM’s unexceptional remarks about working with Sinn Fein now in 2026 is hypocritical in the extreme – and counter to what the British monarchy he praises so much sought to achieve with Mr Fraser’s Tory Party in government in Westminster over a decade ago.

In a landmark speech during her visit to Dublin in May 2011, the queen stated: ‘.. so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history, its many layers and traditions, but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation. Of being able to bow to the past, but not be bound by it.’

‘I applaud the work of all those involved in the peace process, and of all those who support and nurture peace. Taken together, their work not only serves as a basis for reconciliation between our people and communities, but it gives hope to other peacemakers across the world that through sustained effort, peace can and will prevail.

‘For the world moves on quickly. The challenges of the past have been replaced by new economic challenges which will demand the same imagination and courage. The lessons from the peace process are clear; whatever life throws at us, our individual responses will be all the stronger for working together and sharing the load.’

Perhaps Mr. Fraser’s world never moves on? Hardly an ideal character trait for a member of the Scottish or indeed any other democratically elected parliament! But then the voters in Perthshire have been sending the same message to Mr Fraser over very many years – yet he still won’t go!

Source: https://www.irishpost.com/featuressin-full-the-queens-speech-during-her-visit-to-ireland-in-2011-239706