Sinn Fein MPs ‘should go into Commons chamber’

Sinn Fein MPs should go into the House of Commons chamber instead of just using offices they will be allocated after a controversial vote at Westminster this week, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said today.

Just four days after the House of Commons voted to allow Sinn Fein’s four MPs to have access to facilities in Westminster, even though they will not swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen and take their seats, Dr Reid insisted the move would bring republicans ‘‘further into the political process’’.

However he argued: ‘‘I wish they would come into the chamber.

‘‘I will be quite truthful with you. I want to see Sinn Fein MPs in the chamber of the House of Commons and involved in trying to resolve difficulties by dialogue, by debate, by democracy.

‘‘That is what the whole peace process is about - moving people away from trying to resolve things through violence or terrorism.’’

Dr Reid noted Sinn Fein, which has four MPs - Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew - was keen to play a greater role in political life at Westminster.

It was, therefore right, he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics programme, that they should be given House of Commons facilities and be able to represent their constituents.

‘‘Now, our belief is that because of dialogue and bringing people further into the process, it is a good thing to do,’’ he said.

‘‘Also (it is right) because there have been advances in the past few years - not only the acceptance of the Belfast Agreement but also the entry into the Northern Ireland Assembly as well as ministers in the government and decommissioning.

‘‘Thirdly, because of the fact that we want to see all of the constituents in areas which elected Sinn Fein MPs, and remember some of them didn’t vote, many of them didn’t vote for Sinn Fein, get the representation they are entitled of MPs as constituency MPs.’’

Dr Reid also refused to condemn Gerry Adams’ controversial visit to Cuba this week, where he met President Fidel Castro despite some unease among Sinn Fein’s supporters in the United States.

The visit was also criticised in Northern Ireland by David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists and the SDLP.

But the Secretary of State insisted: ‘‘That is a matter for Sinn Fein. They have their own reasons for going and they knew the risks attached to it.

‘‘The Americans have made their views known but I can hardly as a Government minister decry the principle of it when only last week the Health Select Committee for the House of Commons went to Cuba.

‘‘So it is entirely a matter for the party leadership of Sinn Fein.’’