The job of an MP is to represent the whole constituency… yet SF’s Westminster boycott denies representation

Sinn Fein's North Belfast MP John Finucane with the party's NI First Minister Michelle O'Neill

Malachi O’Doherty

Sinn Fein was placated and pampered during the peace process and allowed to abuse the democratic process. And, after all, what did London care if a few surly Irish republicans took the dosh and didn’t bother to turn up? They would have created a bigger fuss back then if they had entered the chamber and asserted their political vision and raised questions about the quality of governance over the whole UK.

One could understand how difficult that might have been for them when the IRA had so recently been vandalising English city centres with their bombs.