Reid welcomes vote on Sinn Fein offices

The decision to grant Sinn Fein MPs the use of offices in Westminster has been welcomed by Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid.

MPs voted for the British Government’s motion by 322 to 189, despite furious opposition from Conservatives and Unionists in the Commons.

Sinn Fein’s four MPs will now be able to use official offices from next month without swearing allegiance to the Queen and taking their seats in Parliament.

Speaking after the result Dr Reid said: ‘‘This was a free vote on a difficult issue and I am very glad that the majority of members were persuaded by the government’s arguments.’’

Ministers had been compelled to back the government’s motion.

However, former ministers Kate Hoey and Frank Field joined senior backbencher Gwyneth Dunwoody among the nine Labour MPs who opposed the move.

And shadow Northern Ireland secretary Quentin Davies claimed many more British government backbenchers shared their opposition to the ‘‘hideous’’ result.

Earlier he had declared the death of the bipartisan approach with Labour over Ulster after more than 30 years of co-operation.

Commons Leader Robin Cook opened the debate to jeers and taunts of ‘‘Shame!’’.

Mr Cook told MPs the change was ‘‘one small contribution’’ to help move the peace process forward.

He also disclosed that the right of access for Sinn Fein MPs had never once been withdrawn under the previous Tory government, while it was in power for 18 years.

‘‘We are more likely to secure further decommissioning if we demonstrate that we are willing to maintain momentum on our side,’’ he added.

Mr Davies said: ‘‘Not for the first or last time we have won the argument but lost the vote to the Labour Party’s overwhelming majority.

‘‘I pay tribute to the brave Labour rebels. So many people on the Labour side privately shared their views but dared not express them.

‘‘We now have the hideous prospect that our rules have been distorted to accommodate Sinn Fein/IRA.’’

Mr Davies went on to voice the view, shared by many colleagues in the Commons debate, that the decision had created ‘‘two categories of MP’’.

‘‘Even worse, on the British Government’s own admission, Sinn Fein/IRA have given nothing in return for this extraordinary privilege,’’ he continued.

‘‘The Government rejected our attempt to make these new privileges for Sinn Fein/IRA at least conditional on completing decommissioning.’’