Blair raises prospect of Sinn Fein expulsion

Downing Street has given its strongest indication yet that Sinn Fein could be expelled from the power-sharing executive at a press conference given by the Prime Minister in London today.

Mr Blair's comments follow on from yesterday's speech by Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid in the Commons – a speech widely criticised by both republican and unionist representatives for not going far enough toward combating paramilitary activity.

However, today Mr Blair offered a more robust statement of intent than was evident yesterday. He made particular reference to Sinn Fein, stressing that the party would be barred from government if the IRA is found to have broken its ceasefire.

"I am not going to speculate that it is going to happen and I believe and hope that it won't – but if we do come to that judgment, then John Reid, the Secretary of State, will put before the assembly a motion," the Prime Minister said.

"This necessarily involves the republicans – Sinn Fein and the IRA – because they are the party in government. It is quite clear that you cannot carry on in government unless you are committed to exclusively peaceful means."

The Prime Minister's comments will do much to relieve pressure on First Minister David Trimble from within his own party.

However, Mr Trimble has thrown grave doubt on the future of the institutions and, after consulting with his assembly members this afternoon, said that his party would review its approach to the assembly in September. He added that Dr Reid's statement yesterday was "appalling".

In an article for the Daily Telegraph today, the UUP leader said that there should be a regular independent audit of the status of the paramilitary ceasefires.

He added: "The republican leadership has shown itself capable of self-serving tactical cunning. That cunning manipulation of political circumstances is what is now threatening the survival of the agreement. The government needs to save Sinn Fein from itself, by compelling it to face political reality."

Mr Blair seems to gone some way toward acting upon those words at his press conference.

Mainstream nationalist and republican opinion has been highly critical of Whitehall and the UUP leader.

The SDLP's deputy leader Brid Rodgers said that David Trimble was being seen as the "biggest threat" to the institutions.

Sinn Fein's president Gerry Adams said that the government had "failed to deal with the real crisis" which he described as the "orchestrated campaign" by the UDA.

(GMcG)