Brian Feeney: It’s time for Sinn Féin to give up on this failing Assembly |
SINN Féin’s ard fheis at the weekend was a success – up to a point.
The return to Belfast after seven years allowed them to demonstrate with up to 1,700 delegates present that they are not only the largest party in the north by far in membership, and in council, assembly and Westminster seats, but also the largest and richest party on the island.
Mary Lou McDonald made a characteristically masterful speech attacking the Dublin government, appealing for support in next month’s by-elections in Dublin and Galway and strongly endorsing the campaign for a referendum on reunification.
Michelle O’Neill made a very good speech, very good because for the first time in ages a senior Sinn Féin figure actually attacked the DUP, which is what the party faithful want and need to hear.
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“The DUP want to turn the clock back. They are attempting to block and delay progress on issues that would make a real difference to people here.”
The fact is that the DUP doesn’t only attempt to block progress but has succeeded.
O’Neill said: “They yearn for the days of unionist misrule… We are not going backwards; we are only going forwards.”
Nope. The central problem is that Sinn Féin isn’t.
It’s because of the DUP that there is no progress, nor will there be.
It’s........