Ex Sinn Fein Mayor leaves the party.

[Seamus]

Ex-mayor quits SF over unity strategy By Diana Rusk
06/08/08
FORMER Dungannon mayor Barry Monteith has resigned from Sinn Fein – saying he does not believe the party’s political strategy will lead to a united Ireland.
Mr Monteith (32) announced his resignation in a statement yesterday but vowed to stay on as a councillor in the Co Tyrone town.
He had been Sinn Fein’s youngest councillor in the north when he was first elected at the age of 25 in 2001.
He finished a term as mayor of Dungannon District Council in May.
Yesterday Mr Monteith said he regretted having to resign from the party.
“This is due to an increased disillusionment with current Sinn Fein strategy,” he said.
“I no longer share the belief that this strategy will lead to Irish unification.
“I will remain as an independent republican councillor and continue to concentrate on issues affecting the people of Dungannon.
“This decision has been reached amicably and I hold no animosity toward Sinn Fein as I continue to have friends within the party.”
Mr Monteith would not be drawn on exactly which element of Sinn Fein strategy he had become disillusioned with, saying there were “various aspects”.
“It is not just solely about policing,” he said.
“I am disillusioned with the current political strategy of Sinn Fein, the current process that is being followed.
“There’s not one particular issue, no one thing I’m getting at. I’ve been feeling this way for a while.”
Michelle Gildernew, the Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said the resignation was not a surprise.
She said Mr Monteith should resign his seat.
“Barry has been unsettled for some time. Despite the fact that I do not share his current reservations about the future direction of the struggle I would like to thank him for the time he has served on Dungannon council,” she said.
“However, the fact remains that Barry was elected as a Sinn Fein councillor on the basis of a Sinn Fein manifesto.
“The people who elected him are entitled to be represented by a Sinn Fein councillor.
“Therefore Barry should do the honourable thing and resign his seat and allow the cooption of a Sinn Fein member.”
Mr Monteith – from Mullaghmore Park, Lisnahull in Dungannon – joined Sinn Fein as a teenager.
He worked full-time for the party after gaining a degree in Irish history and politics at the University of Ulster.
He has represented Dungannon town since 2001 and became deputy mayor in 2002 and again in 2005 before becoming mayor last year.

http://www.irishnews.com/irishnews/5...7Exmayorq.html

[factual]

Ex-mayor quits SF over unity strategy By Diana Rusk
06/08/08
FORMER Dungannon mayor Barry Monteith has resigned from Sinn Fein – saying he does not believe the party’s political strategy will lead to a united Ireland.
Mr Monteith (32) announced his resignation in a statement yesterday but vowed to stay on as a councillor in the Co Tyrone town.
He had been Sinn Fein’s youngest councillor in the north when he was first elected at the age of 25 in 2001.
He finished a term as mayor of Dungannon District Council in May.
Yesterday Mr Monteith said he regretted having to resign from the party.
“This is due to an increased disillusionment with current Sinn Fein strategy,” he said.
“I no longer share the belief that this strategy will lead to Irish unification.
“I will remain as an independent republican councillor and continue to concentrate on issues affecting the people of Dungannon.
“This decision has been reached amicably and I hold no animosity toward Sinn Fein as I continue to have friends within the party.”
Mr Monteith would not be drawn on exactly which element of Sinn Fein strategy he had become disillusioned with, saying there were “various aspects”.
“It is not just solely about policing,” he said.
“I am disillusioned with the current political strategy of Sinn Fein, the current process that is being followed.
“There’s not one particular issue, no one thing I’m getting at. I’ve been feeling this way for a while.”
Michelle Gildernew, the Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said the resignation was not a surprise.
She said Mr Monteith should resign his seat.
“Barry has been unsettled for some time. Despite the fact that I do not share his current reservations about the future direction of the struggle I would like to thank him for the time he has served on Dungannon council,” she said.
“However, the fact remains that Barry was elected as a Sinn Fein councillor on the basis of a Sinn Fein manifesto.
“The people who elected him are entitled to be represented by a Sinn Fein councillor.
“Therefore Barry should do the honourable thing and resign his seat and allow the cooption of a Sinn Fein member.”
Mr Monteith – from Mullaghmore Park, Lisnahull in Dungannon – joined Sinn Fein as a teenager.
He worked full-time for the party after gaining a degree in Irish history and politics at the University of Ulster.
He has represented Dungannon town since 2001 and became deputy mayor in 2002 and again in 2005 before becoming mayor last year.

http://www.irishnews.com/irishnews/5...7Exmayorq.html

This is already being discussed here
http://www.politics.ie/viewtopic.php...00490#p1300490

[blinding]

It does look like the SPLIT is gaining momentum.If we are to be realist there is probably going to be a return to violent republicanism(if it has not happened already)
Maybe because I am older I cant see what this violence will achieve.A lot of people are dead or maimed already and what has it achieved.I believe that nationalists/republicans should stay united.It is time for major national politicians in the 26 counties to start making the case for a united Ireland in a big way.Unfortunately our present economic conditions will make this very difficult.

[Deep Throat]

what path did he think the party was on when he joined?
surely the strategy that the party is now pursuing is the same one SF were pursuing when he joined?!
he should never have joined sf in the first place!

[DOD]

I don;t think this is evidence of a further split, merely that the incrematal departures from SF are going on for longer than may have been anticipated.

[wysiwyg]

It does look like the SPLIT is gaining momentum.If we are to be realist there is probably going to be a return to violent republicanism(if it has not happened already)
Maybe because I am older I cant see what this violence will achieve.A lot of people are dead or maimed already and what has it achieved.I believe that nationalists/republicans should stay united.It is time for major national politicians in the 26 counties to start making the case for a united Ireland in a big way.Unfortunately our present economic conditions will make this very difficult.

I'm not sure if this is heralding a return to violent Republicanism, but there is definitely a leaking to Éirigí, who espouse more "socialist" values than SF have been able to produce when in actual Government in the 6. An awful lot of young well educated Republicans in the Universities of the 6, who would be natural and fertile SF ground are looking towards Éirigí.. this may hasten if there is a protracted economic downturn.

There is also a problem regarding the unwillingness of an aging leadership to let go as it were, and in the process a centralism within the party which is alienating many younger people whose ambitions are being thwarted

[Cael]

Its certain that no Republican minded young people will be joining PSF. Adams & Co. might actually have to get off their tired old arses and put leaflets in doors if they want to get their lying garbage out.

[factual]

It does look like the SPLIT is gaining momentum.If we are to be realist there is probably going to be a return to violent republicanism(if it has not happened already)
Maybe because I am older I cant see what this violence will achieve.A lot of people are dead or maimed already and what has it achieved.I believe that nationalists/republicans should stay united.It is time for major national politicians in the 26 counties to start making the case for a united Ireland in a big way.Unfortunately our present economic conditions will make this very difficult.

I'm not sure if this is heralding a return to violent Republicanism, but there is definitely a leaking to Éirigí, who espouse more "socialist" values than SF have been able to produce when in actual Government in the 6. An awful lot of young well educated Republicans in the Universities of the 6, who would be natural and fertile SF ground are looking towards Éirigí.. this may hasten if there is a protracted economic downturn.

There is also a problem regarding the unwillingness of an aging leadership to let go as it were, and in the process a centralism within the party which is alienating many younger people whose ambitions are being thwarted

There is plenty of room for talented young people to move up I'd say. Its not the case that the leadership are terribly old by political leadership standards. Also, the idea that "an awful lot" of young repubicans are looking to eirigi is perhaps exaggerating it. Yes, I'd accept that being in government means its hard to retain some of the membership, but that would not be a surprise and its not clear that this can be avoided, other then by leaving the government, and leaving the government is not something that is likely to be wanted by the electorate.

[wysiwyg]

to be honest Factual... with all due respect, sycophancy such as your own also turns off many younger Republicans... we came from families that had no choice but to think for themselves.. regurgitating leadership pap turns us off

[DOD]

Its certain that no Republican minded young people will be joining PSF. Adams & Co. might actually have to get off their tired old arses and put leaflets in doors if they want to get their lying garbage out.

Not necessarily. Throughout most of the country, SF is the only party even accessible to republican minded youngsters. Not saying they should join, but it is the natural place for most young republicans to look.