On a regular basis, usually after another less than stellar success for Sinn Féin, some commentators pen an elaborate series of excuses to explain how difficult politics is to justify Sinn Féin inaction. I do not accept there is nothing Sinn Féin, with its 27 assembly representatives, could do. Politics after all is all about the art of compromise and the possible. If not why stand for election if you have nothing to offer?
The DUP is aligned with a policy which will do untold damage to its own constituents, never mind the rest of us. Even worse as ‘democrats’ they are supporting individuals who apparently think it is OK to dissolve and by-pass a sovereign parliament.
In their quieter moments the DUP must surely worry that having bought into such precedents it will come back to bite them.
Does Sinn Féin really mean what it says – it values our membership of the EU and is “working” to help preserve our membership or mitigate the damage?
If they do, then they could try and help the DUP back from the ledge it has climbed onto. After all many others, starting with John Hume and the SDLP, helped Sinn Féin climb down a few times from their own high horses, without undue embarrassment.
There have been suggestions of citizens assemblies or self-selecting groups such as Civic Nationalism. Fifty years ago the civil rights organisation was attacked as a front for nationalism. This latest group seems to have embraced this label and by definition surely ruled itself out.
The current talks process aside, what stops Sinn Féin from reaching out to the other parties, who have a mandate, to an open forum solely about Brexit to consider the best interests of Nrn Irn? There is a big building free at the moment and I doubt access could, much less would, be refused.
The idea would be to debate, argue and even hear expert presentations from those professionally interested and credible so to do.
The unionists would of course be invited (would they dare refuse to show up?). If a consensus position were to emerge it would be one that our elected representatives could vote and therefore afford chance for a face-saving rethink for all concerned.
I am sure this idea has many wrinkles that need ironed out, including my naivety in suggesting it, but if all Westminster MPs were to attend and vote on this single issue, up to 18 votes for sanity, backed by a unified cross-community mandate, could be a compelling game-changer.
I am sure there are many arguments for not doing this, but in truth what would be the harm in trying, assuming of course our representatives really do mean what they say.
Who knows, if this worked they could even try it again on other issues such as health and education?
FRANK HENNESSEY
Belfast BT9
Party popularity more important for SF than ideals
Establishment parties south of the border have tried to link Sinn Féin’s poor electoral result as a response to not being in government at Stormont. Whatever the reason it has nothing to do with whether or not Sinn Féin is in Stormont because the average southern elector couldn’t care less. Instead this is an excuse by those partitionists to exert pressure for an internal settlement in the north. The sad thing is that Sinn Féin in order to attempt to rebuild falling electoral support is prepared to abandon those objections that saw it bringing Stormont down. For Sinn Féin popularity is more important than principles or ideals. It is its attempt to be everything to everybody that has played a crucial role in its downfall because while it can highlight disadvantages to various sectors of the community, it comes up short in providing solutions.
Sinn Féin suffered losses in the north but not as dramatically as in the south. The results came as a shock to the party leader and activists which shows how far from reality the party is positioned. A party that labels itself republican should have been expected to capitalise in the north on the anti-Brexit opinion while in the south the fact that an exit poll suggested that two thirds of the electorate were in favour of a united Ireland was something that Sinn Féin should have profited from.
The truth is that in order to seek electoral support from previously unsympathetic sections of the population, Sinn Féin has downplayed its national unity aspirations to the extent that it has become very much a secondary issue. It is difficult to see how it can continue to brand itself as a republican party, or at least any more republican than Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.
Don’t be surprised if Sinn Féin abandons its red lines in relation to an Irish language act or to a bill of rights.
SEAN O'FIACH
Belfast BT11
Sinn Féin in free fall
It is almost ironical that the survey carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes for a national newspaper indicates that Sinn Féin support has fallen seven points to just 12 per cent, two points below the 2016 election result and leader Mary Lou McDonald, all soporific since her inception has fallen seven points to 32 per cent in the satisfaction ratings. The party must now accept that the free fall in their support is a reflection on her leadership, which apart from walking behind an absurd ‘England get out of Ireland’ banner in a St Patrick’s Day parade in New York, is right up there with Arlene Foster in the political negativity stakes.
We still await for her to say something revelatory about her stock subject – a united Ireland – such as what will it be like for those whose opinions may differ from hers. There is no act or proposal on her part that would indicate a readiness to take a course of action or to open a relationship. Sinn Féin like the DUP is anchored in a political mire bellowing the same old message. Well, as the polls would suggest, ‘the times they are a changin’ and so must Mary Lou, otherwise she may find her party blown away in the winds of yesterday.
WILSON BURGESS
Derry City
Making hidden disabilities visible
The Department for Transport in England announcing that the Blue Badge Scheme will now be open to people like me with hidden disabilities is a very important step forward.
I’m often challenged for using accessible amenities, like seats on trains. If people can’t see a disability then they don’t think it’s there, or they don’t believe the severity of your disability is what you say it is.
When you have a hidden disability you have to work harder to show you have something wrong with you. It shouldn’t be like that.
The change to the Blue Badge Scheme is positive. People with hidden disabilities need accessible parking. I only apply for a Blue Badge because I need it – I need adaptations to drive my car and sometimes I can’t travel on my own.
It’s important to remember not to judge a book by its cover and that some people have disabilities that aren’t always visible. The new scheme recognises that.
JORDAN SMITH
Reading, England
