No confidence in openly pro-unionist British Government’s commitment to political process

REPUBLICANS have no confidence in the British Government’s commitment to the political process, Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney said on Wednesday evening as he was selected to fight for the MP’s seat in South Antrim.

His attack on the Tory-led administration came at the election convention in Antrim town.

Declan Kearney (pictured) said that British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has repeatedly restated this British Government’s pro-unionist position.

“She has recently represented her role in the current talks as that of a facilitator rather than a talks participant.

“The DUP have been allowed to dictate the British Government’s approach to these talks. DUP leader Peter Robinson has set down preconditions on welfare cuts, parading and the participation of the Irish Government.

“British Government pandering to unionist intransigence damages the political process; undermines the Good Friday and other Agreements’ process and principles; and strengthens the unionist anti-Agreement axis.

“Republicans have no confidence in the commitment of the British Government to the political process.

“Without an agreed work-plan the current talks are not credible. They will not succeed if this British Government refuses to accept its co-equal obligations to uphold the Good Friday Agreement, and implement the elements of all extant agreements.

“This British Government should be part of a pro-Agreement axis and it is not. While that remains the case its political agenda will be set by extremists.

“Pro-Agreement politics and democratic imperatives should have primacy.”