Downing Street Says » Northern Ireland

» Thursday, March 10, 2005

Northern Ireland

Asked why the Government was taking away Sinn Fein’s allowances but not their offices at Westminster the PMOS said that Peter Hain would set out the position in the House. Again there was a balance to be struck here, on the one hand expressing extreme disapproval, as the Prime Minister had done in parliament yesterday and as he had repeatedly done including with the Irish Prime Minister and on the other hand not giving Sinn Fein the excuse that in some way you were denying them their electoral mandate. That was the balance that we had to strike. It was this Government and the Irish Governments view that nothing should be done to divert attention from the central issue of whether the IRA was going to stop activity or not. Of course it was right and proper that we had debates on these issues but nothing should divert away from that central issue and nothing should divert away from the position taken by the McCartney family, which was their demand for justice. They would speak for themselves and they must be allowed to do so.

2 Comments »

I just don’t know what is going on in this country any more.

MPs are having allowances stopped – without proof
‘terrorists’ are being locked up – without proof
we went to war – without proof

add to that all of the really badly drafted legislation of the past few years and we have a crisis.

If this sort of thing were going on under some ‘despised’ regime Tony would be baying for blood.

As it is he supports these actions, as does his cabinet.

I just hope there are enough people who see through this deceit before any election.
Comment by Roger Huffadine — 10 Mar 2005 on 7:27 pm | Link
Your are right, I am of the same opinion, I think it is down to a matter of trust, and political differences aside, this Government have lost that trust.
Comment by Colonel Mad — 11 Mar 2005 on 12:36 am | Link

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