The Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, has accused the opposition Conservative party of trying to undermine the search for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
Mr Hain called on the new Tory leader, David Cameron, for more cross-party cooperation.
He said it was a great shame that the Conservatives opposed the Northern Ireland Offences Bill which would allow paramilitary suspects currently on the run to escape jail.
The proposed legislation is opposed by the Tories and by all the Northern Ireland parties.
