British government proposals for RUC reforms came under unionist and nationalist fire in the House of Commons last night as MPs gave a second reading to the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill.
During a lengthy debate on the measure - which establishes the office of Police Ombudsman, changes the RUC oath of service, and brings constables and civilians working together under the sub-title The Northern Ireland Police Service - Sinn Fein's commitment to the Mitchell principles of non-violence was questioned following the weekend rioting in Derry.
And there were tense exchanges between Mr Ken Maginnis MP and the Minister of State, Mr Adam Ingram, after the Ulster Unionist security spokesman - apparently quoting from a leaked government document - claimed the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, was considering writing an article for the republican newspaper, An Phoblacht. He also suggested Dr Mowlam had "sought advice" on the question of a possible "press facility" for the paper.
The charge was rejected by Mr Ingram, who challenged Mr Maginnis for making a direct attack on the integrity of Dr Mowlam, who was not present, from a document he refused to reveal.
Mr Maginnis said the Minister and civil servants "would very much like me to quote from the document to which I allude here. I have no intention of doing so."
But while Mr Maginnis conceded "she may not do it now" he claimed he and Dr Mowlam had met on this issue last Wednesday, and that she had not denied she was considering writing such an article.
The exchanges last night confirmed a steadily worsening relationship between Mr Maginnis and Dr Mowlam. During his opening speech the Minister insisted: "The title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary will remain." But Mr Maginnis asserted his belief that the name would be "relegated" if Dr Mowlam had her way.
Mr Ingram had earlier told MPs the Police Authority would delegate to the Chief Constable, who was empowered to act on its behalf, management responsibility for all the resources needed to deliver the policing service: "This includes those civilian staff who work in support of the RUC, so bringing together into one unitary service, to be called The Northern Ireland Police Service, all those, both constables and civilians, working to provide the policing service. It was because of these changes that we introduced the new title to reflect the overall service being provided. However the title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary will remain."
Mr Seamus Mallon, the SDLP deputy leader, welcomed the change in the RUC oath - bringing it into line with the practice in Scotland - because symbolism was important. However, he said it would not lead to fundamental change. And he said the new subtitle of the RUC was "cosmetic and devoid of substance" and a measure he thought would "satisfy no one and may only serve to embarrass."
Mr Mallon welcomed the appointment of an Ombudsman, which he said would enhance confidence in the investigation of complaints, although he served notice that the SDLP, in the Committee Stage of the Bill, would challenge the provision that his or her appointment should require the sanction of a serving Secretary of State.
He said he would have preferred the legislation to await progress in the talks process. The Bill, he said, was a disappointment, "a statement of limitation of change" rather than of the willingness to engage with the issues of "ethos, composition and identity" which were central to the problem of policing in Northern Ireland.
Mr Mallon unreservedly backed Mr Ingram's call for condemnation of the weekend rioting in Derry. In an apparent reference to Sinn Fein leaders who met the Prime Minister in Downing Street last week, Mr Ingram said: "Those who carried out those actions have no place in a democratic society and should be universally condemned, including by those who claim to uphold the principles of democracy and non-violence as enshrined in the Mitchell Principles."
However, Mr Ingram told Mr David Trimble, the UUP leader, that "culpability" was a matter for the Chief Constable to establish. Mr Trimble demanded: "Is it not the case, as we all know, that the riots were organised by Sinn Fein/IRA? You have mentioned the Mitchell Principles. Is this not a clear breach of those principles?"