'No legal bar to Gerry Adams sitting in both Houses'
My ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ colleague Mark Devonport reports that a spokesperson for the Dáil Éireann, Ireland's House of Representatives, said that it was not aware of any Irish law which would prevent Gerry Adams sitting in both that and Westminster's Houses of Commons.
So it seems being a British MP doesn't disqualify Mr Adams as a candidate in the Irish general election.
Apparently, between 1946 and 1948 the sixth Earl of Longford sat in both the British House of Lords and the Irish Senate.
The issue was also raised with the Speaker in the Commons this afternoon by Ian Paisley Jnr, as follows:
Ian Paisley Junior MP:‬
‪"Thank you Mr Speaker. Can you confirm that you have received a letter of the member of West Belfast indicating his resignation from this house.
"Can you indicate to us that he will not be allowed to breach any of the constitutional requirements that insist that he, like any other member, must receive office under the crown before he can leave this house.
"And if that is the case, can you indicate to us when you will be replying to him instructing him of his obligations as a member of this house.‬"
Speaker:‬ "‪Let me say to the honourable gentleman to whom I'm grateful for his point of order that correspondence with the Speaker is private - it's not the subject of an exchange on the floor of the house what members might or might not say about their correspondence is a matter for them, but I intend to keep my own counsel.
"There are procedures to be observed and observed they must be.‬"
‪
What a useless answer from John Bercow. What happened to the Speaker's new climate of change and transparency in the Commons?
It's not like him to be so opaque and uninformative, especially when his officials are being so much more helpful in their briefings.
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 25th Jan 2011, worcesterjim wrote:Bit harsh on Speaker Bercow Michael?
Westminster may be drifting closer to light entertainment (than it is to being part of any meaningful executive) but they do have to keep up some formal and procedural pretences surely?
So few people now think they are really represented in the Houses of Parliament that I can`t imagine this issue matters a jot to the average voter.Who cares...and so what?
Now if "our" politicians debated leaving Afghanistan or the EU our ears would prick up....until we remembered that by some complete coincidence no electable British party dares stray away from Washington`s foreign policy on these or any other ruinously expensive matter!
Come on...let`s all face facts.... we are no more a proper fully functioning representative democracy than any other nation in the USA`s secret empire!
Now THAT`S a story!
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Comment number 2.
At 25th Jan 2011, Nigel Fletcher wrote:The two "offices of profit" commonly used - Chiltern Hundreds and Manor of Northstead - may be the conventional routes, but they are not the only ones. Disqualification is governed by the House of Commons Disqualifications Act 1975, which contains a lengthy schedule (updated last year) of other offices which also disqualify their holders from being an MP, including judges and serving members of the Armed Forces. For example, in 1981 Sir Thomas Williams ceased to be an MP when he was appointed a circuit judge.
Adams doesn't have to be made a judge - there are plenty more prosaic offices to choose from. All he has to do is apply to the relevant UK Minister, and for them to appoint him. How about a Director of Northern Ireland Water Limited (yes, it's on the list)? After recent problems, I suspect there may be a few vacancies soon...
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Comment number 3.
At 25th Jan 2011, Justin wrote:Interesting historical note. Up until relatively recently republicans didn't recognise the Dail either. And now it looks as if there leader MIGHT be the first elected Irish Politician to be elected to both houses. Although will the anti double jobbing legislation be extended to the whole of Ireland? And what will that do to the British constitution? Although admittedly Gerry Adams doesn't actually want to be an MP anymore.
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Comment number 4.
At 26th Jan 2011, stanilic wrote:I would argue that since Mr. Adams has not and will not take the oath of allegiance that he is not and will not be a Member of Parliament, but no doubt the British state in its customary desire to share its taxpayers' money around as liberally as possible has rewarded Mr. Adams with a salary and possibly rations as well even though he had abstained from taking up his membership.
I think Mr. Bercow is happy to have received a letter from Mr. Adams as much as he seems pleased to receive letters from me, although why he takes half a page to sign his name on the reply is beyond me. Mr. Adams has every intention of going to a better place so we can be thankful that he has had the courtesy to let the Speaker know. This will ensure that the cook will not have to cater for him in future.
For my part I feel that as a Republican and an Irishman Mr. Adams will be a whole lot happier taking up a seat in the Dail. It will have the added advantage that he will not have to experience assorted drunks and buffoons if he chose to take up his seat in Westminster.
I think that in his resignation Mr. Adams has pleased himself, pleased Mr. Bercow and pleased the British taxpayer. Mr. Paisley Junior won't be pleased but he will have to remain loyal as usual anyway. I think his father would have been far more erudite in such a question, milking the occasion with his dry but often irritating humour expressed in that loud and luxurious voice. A remarkable man with whom I never agreed.
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