Sinn Féin Asked to Word Alternative Westminister Oath!

[turdsl]

Patterson's right to ask the question. The SF line has matured from "We're not sitting, because we don't like the oath" to "We're abstaining, and the people who vote for us know we're abstaining"

Which is great for say the 60% of people that vote for an SF MP. Not so much for the 40% who didn't, and are now denied a voice in their house of parliament.

If they want to stand and not do the work great. But you shouldn't get paid for not working. In the Republic we were all up in arms demanding financial penalties for TDs who don't attend the Dail. Surely there should be financial penalties for those who don't attend Westminster. Turn around's fair play.

So you go back hundred of years and penalize the electorate when they do not vote the right way, they were elected not to attend,

[ivnryn]

Which is great for say the 60% of people that vote for an SF MP. Not so much for the 40% who didn't, and are now denied a voice in their house of parliament.

The reverse logic applies to constituencies with unionists. 60% of the population in those constituencies want to be represented, but what about the other 40% who don't want to give the UK parliament legitimacy?

This problem is caused by the lack of PR and isn't SF's fault.

The 40%+ in most constituencies that don't support their MP are either not represented or represented by someone who they don't agree with, depending on your viewpoint about FPTP.

[Jakey]

But the 40% that didn't vote for SF presumably didn't do so as they don't think SF speaks for them....so in fact, that 40% have lost nothing.

Of course they have lost something. They don't have an MP who can battle for their interests in the House of Commons. Labour voters in some English shire constituency might not like the politics of their Tory MP either, but they still expect him to stand up in the Commons and pester the PM about issues of local concern. SF's constituents are denied that right.

[Chrisco]

The wording of the oath is not the problem, the fact that its an oath to a monarch is not the problem. Remove the oath and get rid of the queen and Sinn Fein still wont sit in Westminister.

But that of course begs the question 'why'?

Why wouldn't McGuinness and Gildernew, ministers of the British Crown, sit in the British parliament?

[Garland Names the Skies]

But that of course begs the question 'why'?

Why wouldn't McGuinness and Gildernew, ministers of the British Crown, sit in the British parliament?

Eh because they stud for election for it

[Keith-M]

"Call My Bluff". It will be interesting to see the SF/IRA response.

[DeputyEdo]

Of course they have lost something. They don't have an MP who can battle for their interests in the House of Commons. Labour voters in some English shire constituency might not like the politics of their Tory MP either, but they still expect him to stand up in the Commons and pester the PM about issues of local concern. SF's constituents are denied that right.

Yeah, good point....but maybe the people who didn't vote for SF would prefer to not have a republican party in there at all.
Look at that party in the Netherlands that want sex with children to be legalised (cant remember party name)....I wouldn't care less if every single other ideal they had was the exact same as mine...I would rather have no representation in parliament than have those nuts....and maybe thats how the 40%, or some of them feel.

[Garland Names the Skies]

Yeah, good point....but maybe the people who didn't vote for SF would prefer to not have a republican party in there at all.
Look at that party in the Netherlands that want sex with children to be legalised (cant remember party name)....I wouldn't care less if every single other ideal they had was the exact same as mine...I would rather have no representation in parliament than have those nuts....and maybe thats how the 40%, or some of them feel.

What's that got to to do do with with anything? Clearly that isn't how 40% of Dutch constituents feel anywhere

[turdsl]

But that of course begs the question 'why'?

Why wouldn't McGuinness and Gildernew, ministers of the British Crown, sit in the British parliament?

It appears it is Sinn Fein policy not to sit, They were elected not to sit.

[DeputyEdo]

What's that got to to do do with with anything? Clearly that isn't how 40% of Dutch constituents feel anywhere

I'd agree..the point I was making, the 40% who didn't vote for SF might prefer to have no representation than to have republican representation...and unless someone asks them, we'll never know for sure, we can guess, but that's still just a guess...so overall, it's a moot point.