ePolitix Dods
  • Log-out
  • Logged-in as: Sue Perkins
  • Home
  • Policy
  • Legislation
  • The 1832 Blog
  • Events
  • Member Directory
    • Parliament & Government
    • Education
    • Health
    • Home Affairs
    • Culture
    • International & Defence
    • Energy & Environment
    • Economy
    • Transport
    • Science & Tech

    Sinn Féin ministers in expenses row

    Bookmark and Share

    Member News

    Spending cuts - business view

    Babraham scientist receives accolade from the Biochemical Society

    Homeless Link welcomes the appointment of Grant Shapps as new housing minister

    ALP calls on new government to help young unemployed

    The NASUWT comments on Sinn Fein manifesto

    8th April 2009

    Sinn Féin's five elected MPs have claimed over £100,000 in London living allowances last year, despite refusing to take their seats at Westminster.

    Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Michelle Gildernew, Conor Murphy and Pat Doherty claimed £21,000 each in parliamentary expenses for second homes in London.

    But the party members do not sit in the Commons because they refuse to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

    A Sinn Féin party spokesman said: "We were given the same allowances that other parties are entitled to. We rent two houses in London. We publish an audit of our expenses every year in Dublin."

    But shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson told The Daily Mail that it was "unacceptable" that the representatives claimed a London allowance.

    He stated: "It is completely unacceptable for Sinn Fein representatives, who won't even sit in Parliament, to claim hundreds of thousands at the taxpayers' expense. That is why the Conservatives have consistently opposed members who refuse to take their seats receiving the accommodation allowance."

    Tom Elliott, an Ulster Unionist Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, added: "It is time for Sinn Féin to stop being so hypocritical."

    "They sit under the Crown in the Assembly, a devolved institution within the United Kingdom.

    "In that assembly they pass legislation which is ratified by the Queen. Some may ask what the difference is."

    A Sinn Féin party spokesman later said: "Sinn Féin MPs do not receive a salary from Westminster. Sinn Féin makes no apology for refusing to sit in the British House of Commons."

    Bookmark and Share

    Have your say...

    Please enter your comments below.

    Name

    Your e-mail address


    Listen to audio version

    Please type in the letters or numbers shown above (case sensitive)

    Related News

    Ipsa U-turn on MPs intern expenses

    Government iPhone app spending revealed

    Sinn Fein may lose allowances

    MPs claimed £10m expenses in six months

    Huhne claims coalition is start of revolution



    Latest news

    AV referendum will cost £9.3m

    The referendum on the alternative voting system to be held next May will cost £9.3m.


    Channel 4 'not looking for public money'

    The chairman of Channel 4 has told MPs that he is focused on ensuring the company does not become dependent on government funding.


    King warns recovery uncertain despite growth

    Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has warned there may be a "considerable" way to go before interest rates return to "normal", adding that Britain should not expect a speedy economic recovery.


    MPs' maiden speeches during adjournment debate


    Advertising and the Big Society-'happy bedfellows'


    Gove 'thanked' for axing school building scheme


    Smoking ban to blame for pub closures, says MP


    EU police plan is 'in interests of justice'


    More from ePolitix.com


    RSS feeds

    • News
    • MP articles
    • Peer articles
    • Researcher articles
    • Legislation

    Policy

    • Education
    • Health
    • Home Affairs
    • Culture
    • More...

    Archives

    • MP articles
    • Peer articles
    • Member articles
    • Blog posts
    • ePolitix.com comment

    The House Magazine

    • About the magazine
    • Contact the magazine
    • Advertising
    • Subscriptions
    • Articles archive
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertising opportunities
    • About our Members
    • Services for parliamentarians
    • Sign up for free politics bulletins

    More from Dods


    • Dods.co.uk
    • Dods people
    • Dods monitoring
    • Dods Events
    • Dods Training
    • Public affairs news
    • The Parliament
    • Public sector delivery
    • Westminster briefing
    • The House magazine
    • Civil Service Network
    • ePolitix
    • Euro Source
    • Civil Service Live
    • The training Journal
    Dods logo
    © Dods Ltd 2010