MPs set to cut Sinn Fein money
MPs are now expected to vote on big cuts in the parliamentary allowances which are enjoyed by the five Sinn Fein members of parliament.
Gerry Adams and his colleagues are currently allowed to claim the same allowances as other MPs despite the fact that they never attend the House of Commons on principle.
The Speaker John Bercow today announced he would allow MPs a debate and vote on the Sinn Fein allowances, a subject of considerable anger at Westminster. This is now expected to take place this autumn.
There is likely to be wide support on all sides of the House for cutting back on the money Sinn Fein members receive. This was the subject of a Westminster Hall debate a few weeks ago.
One possible outcome is that Sinn Fein MPs will still be allowed to claim allowances which enable them to look after their constituents. But it looks likely that they will be deprived of travel allowances for trips between Northern Ireland and London.
It is also probable that they will now be barred from receiving Short Money, the state funds given to Opposition parties for research and policy work.
These decisons could cost the five Sinn Fein members hundreds of thousands of pounds a year between them.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 26th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:Good.
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Comment number 2.
At 26th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:Cricky me old mate - I've just realised - you posted 6 times today - I struggle to make 6 comments - respek
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Comment number 3.
At 26th Jul 2010, Smeagol wrote:I'm sure they'll be able to afford it as they will, if anything, be getting even more funding than ever before from the other side of the pond.
But who cares really? It's really clear to me how Great Britain is going to end up in the next 50 or so years, becoming one of the greatest ironies of history by ending up as a colony in the empire of an emergent superpower that was formerly a colony of Great Britain! I'm just sorry I won't be around to celebrate, we deserve it so much.
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Comment number 4.
At 26th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 26th Jul 2010, spirit wrote:One possible outcome is that Sinn Fein MPs will still be allowed to claim allowances which enable them to look after their constituents. But it looks likely that they will be deprived of travel allowances for trips between Northern Ireland and London.
It is also probable that they will now be barred from receiving Short Money, the state funds given to Opposition parties for research and policy work.
These decisons could cost the five Sinn Fein members hundreds of thousands of pounds a year between them.
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Sounds about right. Either they wish to participate at Westminster or not. If they do not wish to be involved in Westminster why should they be able to get their snouts into the gravy trail.
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Comment number 6.
At 27th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:My post has been referred for further considertion - I feel like im in the naughty corner - but then again as a comp school lad I know that unlike public(?) school lads who were never naughty - unless watching rugger - and this is relevant :)
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Comment number 7.
At 27th Jul 2010, Smeagol wrote:Post 6. I look forward to reading your post.
The ones that sail through unhindered are the safe ones that you could shut your eyes and predict almost word for word.
The human race would come to a juddering halt if there were not those among us who push the envelope but in the attempt, arouse the suspicions of those who dream damply of creating a global culture where, for the greater advancement of corporate profit and the greater inflation of pseudo-Blairite narcissistic political egos, we have all been 'persuaded' to think the same way about everything!
However in the UK, the politics of fecundity has overtaken the politics of idealism, plus, we are now borrowing to pay the interest on the money we now have to borrow to pay the price for our loss of global competitiveness in every single market that you can think of. North Sea prawns leave Grimsby for Thailand to be hand-peeled before being flown back again. Even road salt (we have vast reserves of it underground but hey, guess what it's cheaper to get it imported from Poland) and the outsourced call-centres show our terminal lack of competitiveness.
There can only be one result imho and that is our loss of sovereignty to an Indian government who will intervene to rescue our bankrupt country on behalf of it's Indian majority of the UK population within the next 50 years. I wish I could live long enough to bet on it though I imagine the odds are poor. After all how else are we going to survive?
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Comment number 8.
At 27th Jul 2010, TerryFBH wrote:Ow we lads wots wrong wi no 4!!!!
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Comment number 9.
At 27th Jul 2010, barriesingleton wrote:RACISM RIFE (#1)
Not sure you can say 'good' about the Irish FBH. Did you compound the error @4? Not 'woo-hoo' I hope. You get 4 years with daytime TV for that!
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Comment number 10.
At 27th Jul 2010, barriesingleton wrote:"PSEUDO-BLAIRITE NARCISSISTIC POLITICAL EGOS" (#7)
Priceless! For everything else there's Bastardcard.
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Comment number 11.
At 27th Jul 2010, Isatou wrote:Why are we taxpayers having to fund Sinn Fein terrorists in the first place ?
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Comment number 12.
At 27th Jul 2010, Smeagol wrote:Message 10- Yes I agree, I got carried away again. Glad it gave you a chuckle!
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Comment number 13.
At 27th Jul 2010, stevie wrote:one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter...or didn't you know that!
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Comment number 14.
At 28th Jul 2010, Isatou wrote:Stevie,
Or , in ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳speak, " militants" !
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Comment number 15.
At 28th Jul 2010, CraigMorecambe wrote:I can't express how sorry I am for Adams ,McGuinness & co. No, really I can't. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! (Oh, actually it turns out that I can).
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