Sinn FΘin's political operations at Westminster today stand to be boosted to the tune of more than £400,000, courtesy of the taxpayer. That was the estimate by Whitehall sources last night as MPs prepared to debate a government motion to afford the party's four MPs the facilities of the parliament without swearing the oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth and taking their Commons seats.
The Conservative leader, Mr Iain Duncan Smith, and the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, are leading opposition to the move. They say it will create two categories of MP and should not in any event be implemented until some time after the Independent International Decommissioning Commission confirms the completion of IRA disarmament.
Two Labour backbenchers, Ms Kate Hoey and Mr Frank Field, have tabled a similar amendment for debate on a development which Downing Street considers a necessary and timely boost for the Northern Ireland peace process.
The government's decision overrules the finding of the former Commons speaker, Ms Betty Boothroyd, that to grant the facilities to members not taking their seats was to create "associate membership" of the Commons.
Sinn FΘin has made it clear that the decision to avail of Westminster facilities does not herald the beginning of the end of the party's abstentionist policy.