A Sinn Fein councillor is continuing his quest to have a table specially commissioned by former Prime Minister David Cameron for the 2013 G8 Summit “repatriated” to Fermanagh.
Made from locally-sourced elm to Mr. Cameron’s specifications, the table cost £7,000 and was centre stage at the 39th G8 summit – the first to be held in Northern Ireland.
Heads of state including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin were among those to join Mr. Cameron around the unique table.
When the summit ended, it was shipped to Downing Street and housed in Margaret Thatcher’s study, as Mr. Cameron explained: “I thought it was a good idea to bring it back because it has lots of important memories and symbolism. It was definitely a talking point.”
Dubbed 'TableG8', the issues remains a talking point in Fermanagh, but for different reasons, as some believe Mr. Cameron was wrong to take it, and want it returned.
Councillor Sheamus Greene told a previous Council meeting the table is of significant historical, political and cultural relevance to Fermanagh.
He said: “Prime Minister Cameron came over and I remember sitting in the Town Hall while members of the Foreign Office promised £650 million of benefit to the region.
"Not only did we not get a penny of what was promised, but he nicked the table and the chairs! We have asked for it to be repatriated. I would love to see it back in Enniskillen.”
He suggested campaigning to “repatriate or release the table” to where it belongs.
“If there were four or five good strong men or women, we could even repatriate it ourselves if we got in to look at it. I propose we write to Prime Minister Johnson pointing out, could he return the table his predecessor nicked?”
After the meeting, BBC Local Democracy asked Downing Street why the table was taken, and if this was the agreed position in advance, and if consideration could be given to the Council’s request to return it.
Downing Street confirmed the table remains in what was Margaret Thatcher’s study and hasn’t moved since it arrived, adding: “This government has not received a request to move it, and we have no plans to do so.”
Notably, this didn’t address whether taking the table after the summit was agreed in advance.
With the G7/G8 currently under way, Councillor Greene has written to the Prime Minister referring to previous correspondence to predecessors.
His letter reads: “Leading up to the 2013 G8 summit, your Foreign Office officials promised all sorts of advantages for our county.
"We were informed we could expect a £600 million boost to our economy, as well as a new water park and a much-needed bypass for our county town.
"I was very sceptical of British Tory government promises at the time, but unfortunately, others fell for these fairy tales.
"As the present British Prime Minister, I ask you to fulfil the broken promises of your predecessors and fund the projects initially promised.”
He continued: “To add insult to injury, I believe the Fermanagh G8 table resides in, of all places, the Thatcher room in Downing Street, and I understand you and your staff have had many a good party around it.
"As a non-confrontational person with goodwill in my heart, I’ll be glad to make good any repairs to the table after these boisterous parties, if it is returned to its rightful place in Fermanagh.”
Councillor Greene signed off his letter: “I look forward to your prompt and positive reply to my request for the funding promised and the repatriation of the Fermanagh G8 table.”
At the time of publishing, Councillor Greene has not received a response.
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