Nice sound bite from Seamus Close when he argues that: “it is time for democrats to move on. If we do not, it will prove that politically, Tony Blair is as bankrupt as a Northern Bank vault.” That he is not likely to do so, may be why many Sinn Fein activists appear confident that their party will not take anything other than a shortlived PR hit over this latest crisis.From Seamus Close:
“People are angry that that the return of their Assembly is being held hostage by paramilitary groups and those involved in criminality. If Tony Blair is serious when he says that the Assembly can only be restored when paramilitary and criminal activity by those involved ends, he needs to get real and quit abdicating his responsibility.
“Are democrats going to continue to be held to ransom because the IRA can’t keep its fingers out of the till? Surely now it is time to consider a voluntary coalition of parties that, while they may disagree on many things, are committed to democratic means and do not engage in criminality.
“This robbery was obviously being planned during the recent political
negotiations, at a time when parties were in talks with republicans. Whatever confidence there was in republicans to bring an end to riminal activity has evaporated. If other parties who trust each other and represent the majority of the electorate are prepared to move forward together, would it not be wrong for the Government to stop them?
“As an elected politician, I am now being prevented from doing my job
because of a bank heist. It is time for democrats to move on. If we o not, it will prove that politically, Tony Blair is as bankrupt as a Northern Bank vault.”
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty