Sinn Fein May Be Banned From Opening A Commons Office
Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are likely to be banned from having an office in the Commons unless they take the Oath of Allegiance.
Both men were elected to parliament at the general election, but will not take their seats, because they refuse to swear the Oath of Allegiance to the Queen. But they've said that they intend to use an office at Westminster, which would be run by Siobhan O'Hanlan, an alleged IRA supporter. The prospect of Sinn Fein representatives operating out of the Palace of Westmister has angered many.
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Betty Boothroyd: To make a decision
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Decision on Wednesday
Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd has hinted that she will decide on Wednesday whether the two Sinn Fein MPs can use office and telephone facilities.
"I would not be surprised if there is something tomorrow...The matter is under consideration" the Speaker's Office said.
The possibility of the ruling came amid reports that Miss Boothroyd will say
Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness can only base an office in the Commons if they take the Oath of Allegiance.
David Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, insisted that Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness take the Oath before they are allowed to open the office. Tory backbencher Andrew Hunter said that the possibility of Sinn Fein having a parliamentary office "makes a mockery of the mother of parliaments."
Labour left-winger Tony Benn argued that the office should be set up and that the issue was a matter of law. Mr Benn said that as elected representatives of their constituencies, the two men were entitled to have an office in the House of Commons: "None of us are in parliament because other MPs like us - we are there because we have been elected."
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