How a Political Outcast became a successful Political machine

How a Political Outcast became How a Political Outcast became a successful Political machinea successful Political machine

Don’t spell this wrong or Don’t spell this wrong or you’ll be knee capped!you’ll be knee capped!

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Sinn Fein have in the last 15 years Sinn Fein have in the last 15 years

progressed from being a Political progressed from being a Political Pariah to the largest Nationalist Party Pariah to the largest Nationalist Party in Northern Irelandin Northern Ireland

BASICSBASICS Sinn Fein means Sinn Fein means

‘‘Ourselves AloneOurselves Alone’ and it ’ and it has its roots in 1905has its roots in 1905

It is a REPUBLICAN party It is a REPUBLICAN party with a commitment to a with a commitment to a United IrelandUnited Ireland

It also has a Socialist It also has a Socialist agenda with firm working agenda with firm working class supportclass support

Troubled HistoryTroubled History

Sinn Fein was regarded as the Sinn Fein was regarded as the Political mouthpiece of the IRAPolitical mouthpiece of the IRA

Its strategy throughout the Troubles Its strategy throughout the Troubles was a policy of fighting for Power ‘…was a policy of fighting for Power ‘…with an Armalite in one hand and with an Armalite in one hand and Ballot box in the otherBallot box in the other.’.’

Troubled HistoryTroubled History However Sinn Fein struggled to win However Sinn Fein struggled to win

power outside of hard line Republican power outside of hard line Republican Ghettos. Ghettos.

It also suffered badly in the late 1980’s It also suffered badly in the late 1980’s due to:due to:

IRA disasters such as the Poppy day bombingIRA disasters such as the Poppy day bombing A Government ban on broadcasting Sinn Fein. A Government ban on broadcasting Sinn Fein. A weariness of the TroublesA weariness of the Troubles

Towards PeaceTowards Peace

Gradually it worked towards a Gradually it worked towards a peaceful settlementpeaceful settlement

The ‘Downing Street Declaration’ The ‘Downing Street Declaration’ provided a basis for negotiation with provided a basis for negotiation with the British Government declaring ‘No the British Government declaring ‘No selfish interest in Northern Ireland’ selfish interest in Northern Ireland’

In 1994 the IRA declared a tentative In 1994 the IRA declared a tentative ceasefireceasefire

GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENTGOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT

Despite breaking the ceasefire and a Despite breaking the ceasefire and a huge bomb at Canary wharf in huge bomb at Canary wharf in London the first ceasefire was the London the first ceasefire was the start of a process leading to the GFA start of a process leading to the GFA

Sinn Fein had many demands Sinn Fein had many demands BUTBUT also a lot to negotiatealso a lot to negotiate

A fairly elected A fairly elected Assembly with no Assembly with no danger of Majority ruledanger of Majority rule Major Reform of the Major Reform of the RUCRUC Prisoner ReleasesPrisoner ReleasesA form of all Ireland A form of all Ireland InstitutionInstitution A withdrawal of A withdrawal of British soldiersBritish soldiers

A fairly elected A fairly elected Assembly elected Assembly elected using STV with checks using STV with checks & balances to prevent & balances to prevent majority rulemajority rule RUC ---RUC --- PSNI PSNI Prisoners Released Prisoners Released on licenceon licenceAll Ireland NSMC All Ireland NSMC Closing of bases and Closing of bases and withdrawal of British withdrawal of British soldierssoldiers

Since 1994 SF have polled remarkably.Since 1994 SF have polled remarkably. Today they are the dominant Today they are the dominant

Nationalist party and one of the chief Nationalist party and one of the chief beneficiaries (with DUP) of Devolutionbeneficiaries (with DUP) of Devolution

In 1992 SF had NO MP’s to 5 todayIn 1992 SF had NO MP’s to 5 today They have 4 Executive Ministers They have 4 Executive Ministers

including Martin McGuinness the DFMincluding Martin McGuinness the DFM

1.1.THEY HAVE BEEN THEY HAVE BEEN LEGITIMISEDLEGITIMISED

• Dedicating themselves to Dedicating themselves to wholly peaceful means has wholly peaceful means has been been extremely popularextremely popular. (esp. . (esp. with with Middle class votersMiddle class voters))

• This has made them a This has made them a legitimate partylegitimate party to vote for. to vote for.

• They have been viewed as They have been viewed as ‘‘PeacemakersPeacemakers’’

• Initial fears about their Initial fears about their radical radical policiespolicies or or inexperience in officeinexperience in office proved unfounded. They have proved unfounded. They have proved accomplished and proved accomplished and mature in office with a good mature in office with a good relationship with DUPrelationship with DUP

2.THEY HAVE STRONG 2.THEY HAVE STRONG SUPPORTSUPPORT

• They have managed to hold on to They have managed to hold on to core areas of support such as core areas of support such as West Belfast West Belfast BUT BUT also gain also gain ground in new areas such as ground in new areas such as Fermanagh / South Tyrone – West Fermanagh / South Tyrone – West Tyrone etcTyrone etc

• They have a strong They have a strong Youth voteYouth vote• They have strong They have strong GRASS ROOTSGRASS ROOTS – –

with good links to local with good links to local communitiescommunities

• SF work especially on SF work especially on local issueslocal issues such as joy ridingsuch as joy riding

3.THEY BENEFIT FROM 3.THEY BENEFIT FROM UNIONIST DIVISIONUNIONIST DIVISION

• The dominance of the UUP The dominance of the UUP has been destroyed since has been destroyed since the GFA. The DUP has the GFA. The DUP has become very strong but become very strong but Unionism faces weakness Unionism faces weakness from a shredding of their from a shredding of their vote between parties.vote between parties.

4.THEY HAVE AN ALL 4.THEY HAVE AN ALL IRELAND AGENDAIRELAND AGENDA

• Their all Ireland approach Their all Ireland approach attracts many attracts many Nationalists.Nationalists.

• They are only party to They are only party to stand North and South of stand North and South of the borderthe border

• Gerry Adams has left Gerry Adams has left West Belfast seat to West Belfast seat to become TDbecome TD

• Martin McGuinness is Martin McGuinness is aiming to become Irish aiming to become Irish PresidentPresident. .

5.ACHIEVEMENTS5.ACHIEVEMENTS• One of the biggest One of the biggest

reasons is that SF reasons is that SF appeared to achieve appeared to achieve everything in the GFA. everything in the GFA. Their list of demands was Their list of demands was met (in fact it was mostly met (in fact it was mostly to do with the SDLP) to do with the SDLP)

6.SDLP DECLINE6.SDLP DECLINE• With the achievement of all SDLP demands in With the achievement of all SDLP demands in

short time – it left them without a strong list short time – it left them without a strong list of policiesof policies

• SF began to look like the dynamic voice of SF began to look like the dynamic voice of NationalismNationalism

Danger from apathy – people believing they Danger from apathy – people believing they have become too much part of the old have become too much part of the old system. system.

Danger from Personal issues – Gerry Adams Danger from Personal issues – Gerry Adams has been under intense pressure over his has been under intense pressure over his brothers child abuse and how much Gerry brothers child abuse and how much Gerry knew. He is also accused of leading and knew. He is also accused of leading and knowing the whereabouts of the knowing the whereabouts of the disappeared.disappeared.

Danger of SDLP resurgenceDanger of SDLP resurgence Danger of voter apathy and anger at Danger of voter apathy and anger at

budget cutsbudget cuts Opposition from dissident RepublicansOpposition from dissident Republicans Failure of campaign in ROI – Voters in Failure of campaign in ROI – Voters in

the Republic are very wary of Northern the Republic are very wary of Northern PartiesParties