Mr Greysteel, seemingly you are unaware that all Sinn Fein elected representatives give their salary to their parties and are paid a stipend.

Regardless of if you agree with their politics or not, no members of Sinn Fein are using their position to enrich themselves. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for all parties / political dynasties.

Personally I think no politician should earn more than the average industrial wage. It's distasteful to have multi millionaires at the tax payers expense, particularly when their performance is arguably so bad.

Posted by Bren | 10.05.10, 13:55 GMT

"Abstention by sinn fein is well documented they should try it it is called principals." Aye so much so that they take their pay, expenses and benefits from the British Government. If it was for "Principal" they would not take their paycheck. Prostituting oneself does not give you the moral high ground.

Posted by Mr Greysteel | 06.05.10, 13:10 GMT

Tomas "SF are the only party who are truly committed to ending the massive mistake that was partition, I'll be voting for them with my full heart."

And you think SF will deliver on their (one & only) policy of securing a "united" (sic) "Ireland"?

hah ahah ahaha, that's seriously funny!!

Posted by mark's nemesis | 06.05.10, 13:08 GMT

Sean, are you completely stupid? Margaret makes a fair point. Why elect someone who refuses to fight for your quality of life in the current legislative chamber that decides them? SDLP policy is clear, I might not agree with them all but I don't see how sulking and refusing to represent the constituency that lects you like SF actually helps people. You are obviously one of these people that plays the 'most oppressed peoples' syndrome card and can't see beyond it to the day to day bread and butter issues the SDLP care about.

Margaret has nothing to be guilty about. She's doing the job properly. The people who should feel guilty are SF for simply refusing to do the work they will gladly claim expenses for. They are robbing their own constituents of Tax. Shame on them.

Posted by Conal Stewart | 06.05.10, 11:44 GMT

sean c.down northern ireland, if i had to choose between margaret ritchie, a republican trying to achieve her objective in a reasoning and sane way, and yourself an ignorant bigot, whos only objective is hate, i would go with margaret, i am opposed to what her politics are myself being unionist, however am open to arguement as i believe should we all, however every step she takes forward with her views, you by your blind ignorance put it back further and further. of course your only reason for living is blind hate.

Posted by w.gould2 | 06.05.10, 09:23 GMT

Margaret you contradict your self, you say you are a nationalist yet you swear alligance to a foreign queen! You and your party are a joke.

Posted by sean from co down ireland | 06.05.10, 06:12 GMT

Margaret you contradict your self, you say you are a nationalist yet you swear alligance to a foreign queen! You and your party are a joke.

Posted by sean from co down ireland | 06.05.10, 06:12 GMT

The sdlp always had an inflated sense of their own importance. Ms Ritchie's childish point scoring and interrupting very rudely I may add Gerry Adam's final statement in the debate just shows the type of person she is. The sdlp are about as relevant to UK politics as the SNP. They aren't. I agree with the other poster who talked of Ms Ritchie's aggressive attitudes. I thought the sdlp were supposed to be peace loving.

Posted by TERENCE | 05.05.10, 22:40 GMT

SF are the only party who are truly committed to ending the massive mistake that was partition, I'll be voting for them with my full heart.

Posted by Tomás | 05.05.10, 20:57 GMT

If the SDLP want to take the Oath of Allegiance to the queen at Westminister, and send their MLA's to support British troops in Afganistan - good luck to them.

But do they really need an answer as to why nationalist voters have consigned them to the political sidelines??

Posted by gearoid | 05.05.10, 18:04 GMT

I think Margaret Ritchie could come out of this election as an MP with the largest vote.

Posted by Nathan | 05.05.10, 14:51 GMT

I felt Margaret Ritchie did very well in the debate. She seemed to handle anything that Gerry 'the manipulator' Adams through at her and through it right back illustrating Sinn Fein's ever-growing web of deceit.

Posted by Danny | 05.05.10, 13:37 GMT

its amazeing that these careerist politicans like margaret ritchie criticize sinn fein for claiming expenses Is it possible that she is suffering from some guilt trip trying to maintain her conservative life style by rideing the gravytrain Abstention by sinn fein is well documented they should try it it is called principals. These careerist politicans dont give a dam about the working people no matter what political devide you are from

Posted by Sean O haodha | 05.05.10, 12:06 GMT

Aye Margaret so important your people never turn up, Eddie Mc Grady 9percent over 15 years. The SDLP is a joke.

Posted by Michael | 05.05.10, 11:43 GMT

Lets hope Margaret ritchie can rap Sinn Fein at the polls!

Posted by Claire | 05.05.10, 09:43 GMT

I felt Sir Reg did well in pointing out the mess DUP/SF have made Policing and Justice. Also in showing that SF/SDLP wont support the rule of Law. SF/SDLP would not support bringing troops back onto the streets in any circumstances? So we should just let the dissidents run wild and murder us in our beds then?? Catch yourself on Gerry!
Margaret again showed why only her mother could love her! An overly agressive Bulldog chewing a wasp springs to mind when I see her!
Also very interested to see that the guardian of virtue St Margaret hasnt stopped any community funding to South Armagh in the wake of recent terrorist attacks, or does she only do that when Loyalists are involved and it wont cost her any votes??
Gerrys claims on IRA membership are nearly as fantastic as the swish family Robinsons expense claims!

Posted by Neil McNickle | 05.05.10, 08:26 GMT