- Sinn Fein MPs have reinforced the Conservative Party
- Scandalous that they are allowed to get away with claiming expenses
Ulster Unionist Party Chief Whip, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, said:
“Sinn Fein might not like to talk about it, but irony of ironies, this General Election has served up seven Irish nationalist votes for the Conservative Party in Westminster. Sinn Fein can jump up and down all they like, but their abdication of responsibility by their failure to take their seats reinforces the Conservative Party. It`s Alice in Wonderland stuff from Sinn Fein.
“They`re wrong and they know they`re wrong. If it were not so serious, Sinn Fein MPs’ arrival at Westminster and their clamour for the London media would be laughable.
“More than ever Northern Ireland needs its MPs in Westminster but Sinn Fein continue to run away, although they`ve made sure to register for their expenses before they drift back home again. We would welcome any moves to curb the ability of abstentionist MPs to benefit from Westminster and fill their party coffers whilst abdicating their responsibilities to the electorate. It`s scandalous that they are allowed to get away with it.
“It`s time Sinn Fein got real, dropped their red lines and got down to business at the talks in Belfast.”