Sinn Fein Banned From Opening Commons Office

Both men were voted in at the general election, but will not take their seats, because they refuse to swear the Oath of Allegiance to the Queen. They had said they intended to use an office at Westminster, however - to be run by a convicted IRA member, Siobhan O'Hanlan. The prospect had angered many.

Betty Boothroyd: Ruling

The Parliamentary rulebook, Erskine May, states that until an MP has taken the oath he or she may not sit or vote in the House. But such a person is entitled "to all the other privileges of a member, being regarded by the law as qualified to serve until some other disqualification has been shown to exist".

The Commons Speaker, Betty Boothroyd, has amended this rule, so that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness can base an office in the Commons only if they take the Oath.

Her decision prompted cheers from MPs.

Michael Mates: "it's not right"

A former Northern Ireland Office Minister, Michael Mates, is firmly opposed to Sinn Fein taking advantage of the facilities at Westminster.

"It would be intolerable to have people in Parliament, who were not of Parliament, or taking any part in it, but only getting the perks," he said. "They are after a foot in the door without taking any part ... and that is not right."

David Trimble, the leader of the Ulster Unionists, insisted that Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness take the Oath before being allowed to open the office. A Tory backbencher, Andrew Hunter, said the possibility of Sinn Fein having a Parliamentary office "makes a mockery of the 'Mother of Parliaments'."

A 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," he said.