Suspended MLA urges SF to accept more dissent

A Sinn Féin assemblyman suspended for disagreeing with the party line on local government reforms has called on the party to accept more dissent.

Francie Molloy, a veteran republican, was suspended from the party yesterday for criticising Sinn Féin's stance on the reforms during a media interview.

Sinn Féin supports British government plans to reduce the number of councils in the North from 26 to seven, but Mr Molloy said he would favour 15.

Speaking about the matter today, he said he would not be changing his mind and wanted Sinn Féin to accept his dissenting voice.

He said he had no intention of resigning and believed he would still be a member of the party after disciplinary proceedings against him are complete.

Mr Molloy said he believed the local government reforms were designed to give unionists and nationalists control of three councils each, with Belfast shared between the two communities.

He said this would never encourage reconciliation between the two sides of the political divide.