Opinion

Not everyone is happy with SF’s non-attendance protest vote

Sinn Féin should be completely barred from running in Westminster elections if they have no intention of taking up their seats. They are standing for election again and again, as a protest against a parliament which they hate and in the process not giving a voice in that parliament to the people who voted for them. The situation is absurd and must not be allowed to go on. They are lobbying the electorate for votes and will never use them, when other candidates could avail of such votes who will attend and give a voice. Sinn Féin cannot say with any certainty that everyone who voted for them are okay with the idea of a so-called non-attendance protest vote. Many who voted for them may have voted on manifestos such as day-to-day bread and butter issues and not the old politics of bringing down the British by wearing them down and throwing a spanner in the works. Many people have serious issues in their lives and that of their children and want representation, not token members of parliament whose intention is to show contempt. Emergency laws should be brought in urgently which automatically hold by-elections for members of parliament who are permanently absent from the Commons and specifically where it is understood that elected members will not take their seats. Sinn Féin should be required to sign a ‘notice of intention’ either to take up a seat in an election that they are running in or not. Their seats should then be vacated and they should be automatically precluded from running in subsequent by-elections and subsequent next general election. In the mean time, all privileges howsoever arising should be revoked from their recent non-attending election to Westminster. Sinn Féin should enjoy no benefits whatsoever from their election for the simple reason they will not participate to the slightest degree in an institution which they were elected. Sinn Féin are undoubtedly a party of protest who are doing everything they can to thwart democracy with their usual attitude of negativity and double standards. Significant amounts of money are being spent by taxpayers putting useless members of parliament on the ballot paper for votes which have no bearing on government policy. Sinn Féin should also be billed for all expenses incurred in putting them on the ballot paper and registering them as members of parliament, who will not act as members of parliament. It should be remembered that Sinn Féin also brought down the Northern Ireland Executive and their failure to take their seats in Westminster is an attempt to upset things as much as possible and show contempt for


the British.


The carry-on of Sinn Féin not taking up their seats in Westminster has gone on long enough and it is time to put a sudden and permanent stop to it.


The situation in Northern Ireland regarding their non-participation in the executive should also be legislated against. All privileges and payments should be revoked immediately to bring sterility and the nonsense politics of non-participation and contempt to an end.    

MAURICE FITZGERALD


Shanbally, Co Cork

Claims to be democratic should be taken with pinch of salt

The decision by Theresa May to enter into government with the assistance of the DUP reeks of desperation and ineptitude. It also shows the lengths she is prepared to stoop in her attempts to remain at the helm of government.


As she prepares to sign this Faustian pact it is important the people of England, Scotland and Wales become aware of the philosophy of the DUP – a party of religious fundamentalists who along with their many attributes aspire to and actively promote a creationist ideology.


The Catholic people of Ulster have had to endure discriminating policies of the DUP, including the denial of access to their native language.


This party also frowns upon activities not conducive with passages of scripture. They are absolutely opposed to a woman’s right to termination of a questionable pregnancy, whether it be for medical reasons where mother and foetus are in mortal danger.

They abhor same sex marriage and curry no favour with the LGBT community. It should also be made known that after the local assembly elections of 2015 the DUP were returned as the largest party and enjoyed a sizable majority.


However, this new-found confidence was soon shattered as allegations of DUP ministerial meddling in local governmental projects emerged. Included in these practices was a renewable heating scheme where huge subsidies were paid out eventually costing the Northern Ireland taxpayer an estimated £490m overspend.


Claims to be democratic should be taken with a pinch of salt. Theresa May’s decision to climb into bed with them will reveal the true nature to the English, Scottish and Welsh.

KEVIN McCANN


Belfast BT1

Unfortunate SF stance

It is ironic that a party which calls itself  the Democratic Unionist Party is prepared to help keep in power a Westminster government which is about to begin negotiations on Brexit. This is contrary to the democratic wishes of the majority of the people in this part of Ireland.

While I understand their position, it is unfortunate that Sinn Féin politicians are unwilling to take their seats in Westminster. This would mean that the Conservatives would not have enough support to form a government. Sinn Féin moved a long way at the time of the Good Friday Agreement. Would it be too much to ask them to take the next step?

PAT McGUCKIN


Belfast

Sad day for nationalists

As an SDLP voter the fact that we have no representative in Westminster is a very sad day. I feel that the issues surrounding the border and our culture will not be heard.  I cannot understand why nationalists are voting for a party that will not represent them in Westminster. I would rather not vote than give my vote to Sinn Féin. I feel that such people need a reality check.

I wonder if the death of Martin McGuinness has had a role to play in the fact that it may have been something of a sympathy vote.

This result also shows the crisis that Northern Ireland is in a present and it looks very likely that direct rule is on the cards and I am sure that Sinn Féin does not want this.

O HUGHES


Stewartstown, Co Tyrone

Backward thinking

How can the DUP and their fellow Tories seriously claim that the north is bound by ‘Brexit’ as it is ‘UK-wide’ but not by marriage equality which is recognised in Britain?

Of course the obvious answer is that special arrangements with the EU have been agreed with more than 30 (mostly ex-colonial) territories all over the world from north and south America, to the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. And, of course, partitioned countries like Cyprus already have special status with the EU.

In the light of such backward double standards it is unfortunate that there was been no agreement on a progressive anti-Tory Brexit pact before the Westminster election.

Dr SEAN MARLOW


Dublin 11

Simple arithmetic

A lesson in simple arithmetic for the benefit of Colum Eastwood. Election result: North Belfast – DUP 21,240; SF 19,159; SDLP 2,058. South Belfast – DUP 13,299;   SDLP 11,303; SF 7143. If Colum Eastwood had accepted the pact offered by Sinn Féin 

Alasdair Mc Donnell  would still be an MP and another  24 votes would have got rid of Nigel Dodds. I hope that Colum has learnt the lesson.

JOSEPH O'NEILL


Newtownabbey, Co Antrim