Cameron apologises to Adams over misplaced crown

DOWNING STREET was forced to make a humiliating apology to Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams after the British prime minister announced he was being given the title of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, an office of the British Crown.

According to Mr Adams, he was issued with the apology last night by the Prime Minister’s private secretary after Mr Cameron told the House of Commons Mr Adams would no longer just be known as a republican figurehead, but as Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

“I’m not sure Gerry Adams will be delighted to be a baron,” he said, amid fits of laughter.

Under antiquated British parliamentary rules, an MP cannot resign their seat in the House of Commons without applying for a separate state “office of profit under the crown” honorary position.

If a representative leaves, as Gerry Adams did when he officially stepped down as west Belfast MP last Thursday, it must either be because they have died, been expelled or applied for a new British political post.

If they do not adhere to this policy, Westminster will not accept the resignation.

As a result, Mr Adams — known worldwide as one of Ireland’s most high-profile republicans — it seemed theoretically feasible that he would have to take on such an honorary role.

The issue was raised in the Commons by the DUP’s deputy leader Nigel Dodds, who claimed the “emigrating” Mr Adams’ apparent embarrassment at accepting the official title was just “posturing and childishness”.

However, Mr Adams denied being a party to the “quite bizarre” political anomaly.

“It is untrue. I simply resigned. I was not consulted, nor was I asked to accept such an office. I am an Irish republican. I have had no truck whatsoever with these antiquated and quite bizarre aspects of the British parliamentary system,” he said.

The controversy began over a widespread understanding that, like in Britain, anyone running for the Dáil could not sit in another jurisdiction’s parliament. However, both the Oireachtas press office and the Department of Environment have confirmed to the Irish Examiner no part of article 16(1) of the Constitution blocks such a move.

House of Commons rules do not allow someone to stand elsewhere, but it would appear the ‘Irish question’ could have been avoided by simply referring to Ireland’s democratic document.

It is still unclear how this misunderstanding arose — and how the British Prime Minister got his wires so crossed.