Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Martin McGuinness is to inherit a British title formerly held by Gerry Adams, after Sinn Féin announced a reorganisation of its Northern Irish representation that will see McGuinness resign as an MP.
The party confirmed this lunchtime that four members of the Stormont Assembly – Pat Doherty, Paul Maskey, Michelle Gildernew and Conor Murphy – will step down from their positions in order to devote more time to their duties in Westminster.
McGuinness, the Deputy First Minster in the Northern Ireland Executive, will meanwhile resign his seat as an MP for Mid-Ulster in order to concentrate more fully on his duties in Stormont.
His plans to resign as a member of the House of Commons in Westminster will mean he automatically inherits the title previously held by the party president Gerry Adams – becoming the new Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
This is because there is no official mechanism through which an MP can resign – meaning members looking to give up their seats are instead considered to have applied for an ‘office of profit’ under the Crown, a job which then automatically disqualifies them from membership of parliament.
Though Adams insisted he had neither applied nor accepted the job, he officially held the title between January 26 last year – when he resigned from Westminster in order to concentrate on his Dáil election in Louth – and April 1, when he was replaced by the current holder, Peter Soulsby.
Resignations from the House of Commons are rotated between the Northstead position and a second, similar title – the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds.
McGuinness is assured of receiving the former title, however, as it most recently changed hands over a year ago, while the latter job was most recently filled only three months ago.
Though Sinn Féin MPs abide by the principle of abstentionism - refusing to take their seats in the House of Commons as they do not recognise its right to legislate for any part of Ireland – they continue to perform the other constituency duties associated with their roles, and have offices in Westminster.
Sinn Féin’s moves will see it end the practice of dual mandate ‘double-jobbing’, where politicians are members of more than one legislature at a time.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What a horrible lot don’t blame the USA for trying to keep them out
Michael, drug cartels are so powerful because of US drug use, US war on drugs is a joke, calling Mexicans ‘a horrible lot’ is rather simplistic view
Micheal two young mexicans are dead because of the illegal drugs industry, because they may have used their rights to freedom of speech (a right upheld in the constitutions of many countries) to speak out against drug cartels. Are they part of the horrible lot too?The drugs industry is an international one it doesn’t follow borders, it just follows supply and demand.
Michael, try educating yourself before you make idiotic comments in future.
Dear drug cartels,
You can’t stop the signal!
Sooner you learn that, the better!
I’ve been meeting so many people facing these kinds of threats every day at the Frontline Human Rights Defenders Platform in Dublin Castle this week. 130 incredibly brave people from 85 countries being threatened for standing up for their basic rights. Its shocking to hear stories like this one. Can you imagine actually facing that fear every day but continuing to fight for the right thing despite it? And what if you had kids? Massive respect to the journalists who fight back. Rant over. If you guys interested in reading more about them, visit http://www.frontlinehumanrights.org
Mexico, a failed state now. Imagine the situation in ten years time.
There was a great show on last week where that sas guy chris Ryan teamed up with the special police there ‘bope’. Incredible stuff seeing the conditions in the favelas. The place is overrun with drugs and crime. Remember last year when hundreds of cops raided the place and arrested hundreds?
Scary stuff if they are turning to killing those using social media and reporters
Thats brazil you clown. And BOPE are a bunch of murderers and torturers
My bad mad durdu. I made a mistake.
I ain’t a clown though. I wouldn’t say murderers, they are going in dealing with serious criminals and drug cartels.
This was a mad story. On Monday.
: )
have your say