Calls for Sinn Féin to take seats in British parliament wrong

It seems that there is a likelihood that the draft withdrawal agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom will be defeated by a majority vote in the House of Commons (the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom). There are seven elected Sinn Féin (the Irish republican political party) members of the House of Commons from constituencies in the Six Counties in the north of Ireland. Quite rightly, Sinn Féin has always contested general elections in the north of Ireland on the basis of abstentionism. As the political voice of nationalism in the north, they refuse to recognise the authority of a foreign legislature to pass laws for any part of Ireland.

In a desperate attempt to offer support to British Prime Minister, Theresa May's draft withdrawal agreement, Taoiseach ( Irish Prime Minister), Leo Varadkar, has said that the seven SF MPs should attend the British parliament to support her plan or resign from their positions. Short of no Brexit, the present deal negotiated by the British PM is seen by many to be the most favourable for Ireland. However, the idea of a group of Irish nationalist politicians riding in to the save the day for Theressa May, is bizarre to say the least. It would also backfire and have an extremely negative impact on public opinion in Britain and be unpopular with Sinn Féin supporters in the north of Ireland. No doubt their political opponents in Ireland are fully aware that this would be a poison chalice for Sinn Féin.

It would seem to be more appropriate, given unfolding events in Britain, that Sinn Féin MP's from the north, should be requesting the right to take up their seats in Dáil Éireann, the lower house and principal chamber, of the Oireachtas, which is the Irish legislature. In doing so they should also pave the way for other elected representatives from the Six Counties, no matter their allegiance, to attend sittings in the Dáil. After all, the national parliament of Ireland is the place to which elected Irish representatives should be seeking admittance.