Hain keeps up tradition of Belfast ramble

The new Northern Secretary met David Trimble's former press officer, Martin McNeely, on Royal Avenue yesterday. Mr McNeely, who is now studying to be a Presbyterian minister, had his son Joshua with him.

Spotting Joshua's Ulster rugby jersey Mr Hain, who double jobs as Welsh Secretary, apologised for Wales' defeat of Ireland in the Six Nations earlier this year.

"You beat Ireland, but you didn't beat Ulster," said Mr McNeely cheerfully, providing Mr Hain with an early lesson in the subtle tribal issues that must be carefully negotiated by all British viceroys here.

Mr Hain was engaging in the tradition that new Northern secretaries must observe - the stage-managed ramble through city centre Belfast.

Tanned and dapper, Mr Hain, who was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth, earned some admiring comments. "Isn't he handsome," said one woman.

After his brief walkabout, he told reporters he was delighted with the reception, and that he was going to work "flat out" with Tony Blair's full support to restore the Northern Executive and Assembly and to see an end to paramilitarism and crime.

Mr Hain is known as a former radical who has spoken about unionist discrimination of Catholics, and is suspected of having supported campaigns for British troop withdrawal from the North. We wondered how unionist politicians might take to him.

Cordially, said Mr Hain, who earlier met DUP leaders. "I had a very good, very cordial and friendly meeting with Ian Paisley."

Mr Hain said rather than being "imprisoned by the past" the North must look to the future.

"We have a window of opportunity which we must open and walk through as quickly as we can."

Mr Trimble said yesterday that Mr Hain would fail if he persisted with a policy of trying to draw republicans into the process.

However, Mr Hain said: "The only path forward is to get all the parties negotiating together to get the Northern Ireland Assembly up and running, and to get an end to criminality and paramilitary activity." He also met Sinn Féin leaders yesterday.