Sinn Fein U-Turn to support Water Charges

[doheochai]

With a speed not seen since the u-turn by Brian Cowan after the last election, Sinn Fein (& the DUP) yesterday did a u-turn on their opposition to water charges.

Secretary of the We Won’t Pay Campaign Gary Mulcahy said “Mitchell McLaughlin and Ian Paisley Jnr.’s comments are a slap in the face of everyone who voted for these parties after being told that they opposed water charges during the elections.”

“The sheer brazenness of these politicians is staggering. Only a few weeks ago these parties claimed they were opposed to water charges but now they have the nerve to say that people will have to pay for the maintenance of our water and sewerage service through water charges. Why do they fail to mention that we already pay for water through the rates? Have the DUP and Sinn Fein all of a sudden contracted a mysterious case of collective amnesia?”

The We Won’t Pay Campaign said that “mass non-payment will teach these gangsters on the hill a lesson if they go ahead and introduce water charges. There is no support for this double-tax in working class communities across Northern Ireland. If they send bills to households they will be met with a mass boycott and the new Minister for Water Charges Conor Murphy will be left with egg on his face.”

UTV interview with Mitchel McLoughlin & Ian Paisley Jr.

http://u.tv/newsroom/onair.asp?q=hi&...07&f=0.4837719

You have to scroll to the end, it will then automatically return to the start for the second part of the programme. The interview is about a quarter of the way in.

McLoughlin states:

"If we separate out the legacy cost and set before people the legitimate cost of providing the water service, people are fair-minded, they will pay that".

[JCSkinner]

I repeatedly asked for members of PSF to come out firmly against water charges in here and they repeatedly shied away from doing so. Now we see why.
I'd expect this crap from the DUP, as they seek to ferry London's billions into UDA coffers and the 'redevelopment' of places like the Shankill and Ballymena.
But the Shinners are behaving appallingly by ignoring the will of the people on this matter.
Scumbags, the lot of them.

[meriwether]

Something that finally unites the people of Ulster- a dislike of ALL politicians.
It was bound to come.

[JCSkinner]

I lay odds not one of the Shinners come here to this thread to explain this crap. Or if they do, they'll plead that they have a mandate for doing this, despite pretending to the electorate that they would not accept water charges in the run up to the election.

[Inishowen]

This is only the start JCS. I see they've already decided to leave Cultural Affairs in the hands of the Free Pree Taliban.......

[Wolverine]

I always felt that Sinn Fein was never seriously up for this. It's one thing to promote non payment from the comfort of opposition, another when in Government.

[Pax]

UTV interview with Mitchel McLoughlin & Ian Paisley Jr.

http://u.tv/newsroom/onair.asp?q=hi&...07&f=0.4837719

You have to scroll to the end, it will then automatically return to the start for the second part of the programme. The interview is about a quarter of the way in.

McLoughlin states:

"If we separate out the legacy cost and set before people the legitimate cost of providing the water service, people are fair-minded, they will pay that".

Appalling truly appalling. This is New Sinn Fein folks, it seems everything is up for negotiation leading to a full turn-around. I wonder will even Cain come on to defend this?

[Indyjoe]

Mind boggling.
At this stage what is the point of PSF? What is its raison d'etre?

[JCSkinner]

Mind boggling.
At this stage what is the point of PSF? What is its raison d'etre?

They're the pro-water charges Nationalist party in the North.

[edifice.]

No doubt Factual will be on stating that a group hug at the crossroads will vindicate Sinn Feins stance on Water Charges which will in turn vindicate Sinn Feins peace strategy which will in turn vindicate Mary Lou's coordinated dress suit when she announces her bull************************ to justify it.