Blair urged to take on Sinn Féin over party funding

A SENIOR unionist yesterday urged ministers to “take on” Sinn Féin which he accused of being funded by profits of illegal terrorist and criminal activity.

Ulster Unionist David Burnside told the Commons it was "masquerading" as a democratic party while actually being financed by the IRA.

Also at question time, Labour backbenchers insisted the link between criminal activity and fundraising for political parties was "wrong" and called for "clarity and transparency" in the funding process.

The calls come after claims by some MPs that Sinn Féin was being funded by the criminal activities of the Provisional IRA.

Mr Burnside said: "The president of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams, and the chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, sit on the army council. The army council is funding a British political party operating in the United Kingdom."

He asked ministers: "What are you going to do to see that political parties masquerading as democratic parties are brought to account and they are not allowed to be funded by illegal activities whether terrorist or criminal. You know all the activities, you should do something and take on Sinn Féin who are not a democratic party."

Labour's Iain Luke asked whether the prolonged suspension of the Assembly could have "serious impact" on the North's economy.

Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged to do "whatever we can to break the deadlock".

"Whatever the difficulties of the past few years, the fact is that the Northern Ireland economy has seen the most astonishing levels of inward investment, in growth and employment and reduction in unemployment and, of course, reduction in terrorist violence."