Unionists welcome possible SF Stormont 'freeze-out'
British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s suggestion that the freezing of Sinn Féin from regional government was one option for Northern Ireland was today welcomed by the Democratic Unionists.
After exchanges between the Prime Minister and the nationalist SDLP in the House of Commons, DUP negotiator Nigel Dodds welcomed Mr Blair’s comments that an alternative to inclusive power-sharing may have to be sought if the IRA fails to end all paramilitary and criminal activity.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Blair told the SDLP’s Eddie McGrady it would be “far better” to find a way forward which included Sinn Féin.
But he stressed there were only two ways forward in Northern Ireland.
“One is inclusive of Sinn Féin and for that to happen there has to be a complete end to all forms of paramilitary or criminal activity as the Good Friday Agreement indicates,” he told the South Down MP.
“Or, alternatively, a way forward without Sinn Féin which actually depends on your party.”
The IRA is currently engaged in an internal debate on their future following Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’s appeal last month for it to abandon armed struggle and embrace the democratic alternative.
But the DUP have been pushing the British government not to wait for republicans to end all IRA activity.
They have urged ministers to bring back a different form of devolution, promoting a voluntary coalition between unionists and the SDLP which freezes out Sinn Féin.
However SDLP leader Mark Durkan, who will meet Mr Blair in Downing Street today, has ruled out such a move.
After today’s exchanges in the House, Mr Dodds said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s indication that is he is willing to consider a way forward without Sinn Féin/IRA.
“It is time for the democratic parties to move on as quickly as possible in light of the results of the general and local government elections which demonstrated that the vast majority of people support an exclusively peaceful and democratic way forward.
“There can be no fudge between democracy and terror and the DUP is determined that stunts and statements designed to take the pressure off Sinn Féin/IRA will not succeed.
“The days of IRA words gaining them access to government in Northern Ireland are over.”
The DUP has also argued that if a voluntary coalition cannot be set up the British government should instead make direct rule from Westminster more accountable, with Stormont Assembly members or local councillors being given a scrutiny role over the work of Northern Ireland Office ministers.
A report by the Independent Monitoring Commission yesterday claimed that the Provisional IRA was still recruiting members and training them how to use firearms and explosives.
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