Sir, – Had the seven elected Sinn Féin MPs been present at Westminster this week they could have secured a majority in the House of Commons for the UK staying in the EU customs union, instead of that option being defeated by just three votes.
There is neither a moral nor strategic equivalence between the party’s continuing abstention from Westminster and the policy of Arthur Griffith’s Sinn Féin which was in a position to command a majority of seats on the island of Ireland in 1918.
By collapsing the Northern Ireland executive over a secondary issue and by not being seen in London during Brexit, the party has boosted the influence of the DUP. It has also reduced its own status in the eyes of voters in the Republic.
Is it even now too late for its MPs to enter parliament in order to ensure in these coming crucial days that the voice of the majority of voters in Northern Ireland and of people on the island of Ireland is heard louder in England? If there is a hard border then Sinn Féin MPs will share the blame. – Yours, etc,
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C KENNY,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Regarding the Westminster vote on the UK remaining in a customs union with the EU, and whatever about Sinn Féin’s absence, which surely should have come as no surprise, it is deeply surprising to me at least that the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Independent Group abstained. But then again, it’s Brexit we’re talking about, so reason does not come into it. – Yours, etc,
CATHERINE
CULLEN,
London.
Sir, – As a social conservative, I never vote for Sinn Féin. However the party receives too much unfair criticism on your letters page for its policy of abstention at the House of Commons. For example, Pat O’Brien states that Sinn Féin MPs “couldn’t be bothered” going to Westminster (Letters, April 2nd).
Many Irish republicans feel they cannot take a vow of allegiance “to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors according to law”. What’s more, abstention at Westminster is not some nasty surprise that Sinn Féin springs upon its supporters after those MPs have been elected.
Every Sinn Féin voter enters the polling station in full knowledge that the party won’t take its seats at Westminster on principle.
Most political parties get criticised for breaking election promises. Sinn Féin gets criticised for keeping one! – Yours, etc,
RONAN
SCANLAN,
Leopardstown,
Dublin 18.