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# Stand-off at Stormont
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/stand-off-at-stormont/
- Published: 2008-06-03T14:06:19.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:40:41.000Z
- Author: Tom Griffin
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:41

**Tom Griffin (London,** [**The Green Ribbon**](http://www.tomgriffin.org/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**)**: The Leaders of the DUP and Sinn Féin are meeting Gordon Brown at Downing Street today amid signs that Peter Robinson's planned nomination as First Minister on Thursday [may not be the formality that had been expected](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern%5Fireland/7432570.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net).

It looks as if Sinn Féin are taking the opportunity to try and redress the pattern identified by Robin Wilson in a [presentation to the Constitution Unit](http://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/files/events/2008/Northern%5FIreland.pdf?ref=opendemocracy.net) last month:

*"Whether it is the devolution of policing and justice (was due, according to St Andrews, in May), legislation on the Irish language (was due before devolution was even established), a new sports stadium plus 'conflict transformation centre' (aka 'terrorist shrine', according to the DUP) at the old Maze prison, or the abolition of the '11+' transfer test (this by far the most relevant to the public at large), the Catholic parties have played the role of demandeurs. And the DUP has answered, respectively: not till the IRA army council disbands, confined to the 'dustbin', too expensive, and the minister is 'living in cloud-cuckoo land'."*

A [statement issued by Gerry Adams](http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/29684?ref=opendemocracy.net) yesterday did nothing to dampen speculation that Sinn Féin may refuse to nominate Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister, potentially precipitating an election. Slugger's [Belfast Gonzo](http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/sf-threat-smacks-of-desperation/?ref=opendemocracy.net) thinks the suggestion is a desperate bluff, but the BBC's [Martina Purdy](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern%5Fireland/7432152.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net) suggests a distinctly cogent logic for it:

*"Of course there are risks involved in playing this game.*  

  
*Geoge W Bush might cancel his trip to Stormont.*  

  
*That is more likely to annoy the DUP than the republicans. In fact their grassroots will probably cheer.*  

  
*Sinn Fein has conceded some of its holy grails to achieve power-sharing and north-south cooperation.*  

  
*And forcing a crisis could put this in danger and delay power-sharing* 
*for years to come with the prospect of a dangerous vacuum opening up.*

  
*On the other hand, it reopens negotiations. Does Sinn Fein think it can do better? Is it addicted to negotiatiing?*  

  
*Whatever the truth, the question for Sinn Fein is - does it have more to gain or more to lose?*  

  
*If nothing else, this question must surely be concentrating minds in the DUP leadership.*  

  
*And even if it is all a bluff and Sinn Fein ends up nominating, it may* 
*have taught the DUP a valuable lesson: there are consequences for* 
*saying No.*"

If there is no nomination on Thursday, the parties will have a week's grace before the Northern Ireland Secretary would have to step in. That could see a crisis overlapping with [the DUP's decision on how to vote on 42 days](http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/02/terrorism.labour?ref=opendemocracy.net). In an [interview with the BBC's Mark Devenport](http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/bubbling-beneath-the-surface/?ref=opendemocracy.net) (hat-tip Slugger), Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy suggests a deal is likely to be cobbled together before then