Once again, Sinn Féin has plunged the political structures at Stormont into crisis. This time it is because the party leadership was not prepared to apply limited welfare cuts in the North while it opposed such measures in the Republic. With three elections pending within 18 months, Sinn Féin has elevated party advantage above the exercise of stable and effective governance.
Political management and internal discipline are the party's strong points. Everything is subservient to its thrust for power. Nothing was allowed to distract from the messages of progress at its weekend ardfheis in Derry. But, out in the streets, voters were beginning to question details of its December welfare deal. At the conference, Gerry Adams reported progress on all fronts under the Stormont House agreement; claimed to have protected benefits and anticipated entering government in Dublin after the general election. The last delegate had left before the political feelgood machinery was cleared away and Martin McGuinness accused Peter Robinson and the DUP of bad faith and reneging on commitments.
Sinn Féin had been under pressure from the SDLP on the basis that the additional money it had secured was insufficient to maintain welfare payments. The DUP leader confirmed such a shortfall existed but insisted there had never been any doubt about the matter. Alliance leader David Ford was equally vehement. He accused Sinn Féin of being "either utterly cynical or utterly cowardly" and said all five parties had known at the time what was involved.
This is the second time the Deputy First Minister has been overruled on budgetary issues. On the first occasion, an early agreement that included welfare cuts was torn up because it conflicted with the party’s Dáil policy. Now, it appears the subsequent Stormont House deal, which included parades, flags and emblems and historical issues, is unacceptable because future welfare claimants are not protected. This is crazy, schizophrenic politics. No wonder Mr McGuinness looked so glum on television last Saturday night.
An estimated £280 million could be required to top up existing benefits and provide for future claimants. Other parties in the Executive were shocked by this demand because the money would have to be withdrawn from other services, such as health, education or housing. Sinn Féin was understandably silent on that issue. By blocking passage of the welfare Bill, however, the party has damaged the peace process while threatening a collapse of the Executive and the Northern Assembly and jeopardising their tax-setting powers. Efforts are currently being made to cobble together yet another deal. But the episode has raised a stark question for politicians in the South: what party in its right mind would enter government with Sinn Féin?