Adams’ new gaffe about Thatcher
GERRY Adams has attempted to take credit for a policy introduced by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s.
In the Sinn Fein leader’s latest gaffe south of the border, he boasted that his party had been instrumental in introducing “warm weather payments” in Northern Ireland.
No such payment exists in Northern Ireland and Mr Adams appeared to be referring to cold weather payments, which are triggered when the temperature in an area is at, or forecast to be freezing for seven consecutive days.
That payment was introduced by Mrs Thatcher’s government in 1986 and extended to Northern Ireland by direct rule ministers two years later.
Quizzed about Sinn Fein implementing cuts in Belfast while opposing them in Dublin, Mr Adams told RTE Radio 1’s This Week programme yesterday afternoon: “Now, what did we establish in the last (Stormont) budget?
“For example, we made sure that those who are most vulnerable are protected. We brought in warm weather payments, we brought in a social fund to assist those most in need, we refused to bring in water charges, we brought in free prescription charges.
“So even in the unique form of government that we have in the six counties, we protected those who are most vulnerable from the worst excesses of British Tory cuts.”
Mr Adams went on to lambast Fianna Fail for “Thatcherite cuts”, seemingly unaware of the irony of invoking the name of a former Tory prime minister who introduced one of the measures he wishes to be associated with.
In any case, the Department of Social Development, which oversees the cold weather payments in Northern Ireland, is run by the SDLP, not Sinn Fein and the free prescription charges — a policy now questioned by many — were introduced by an Ulster Unionist minister.
A DSD spokesman last night confirmed that there is no such thing as warm weather payments.
It was put to Mr Adams that Sinn Fein was implementing budget cuts in Stormont, prompting him to claim that he had persuaded unionists to “stand up to” the British government.
During the 20-minute interview, Mr Adams sounded uncomfortable when asked about the broad economic issues facing the Republic.
Shuffling paper could be heard in the background as Mr Adams, speaking on the phone from Londonderry, was repeatedly pressed for a figure on the cost of one Sinn Fein proposal — recapitalising a renationalised Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland.
He also said that his party would “burn the bank bond holders”, conceding that defaulting on government debts would mean those bondholders would refuse to lend further money to the Republic.
However, the Sinn Fein president claimed that there would be other, “astute”, lenders who would keep offering money to the Dublin government.
The last week has seen an unusually flustered Mr Adams see his economic credentials ridiculed by rivals.
Asked by the BBC last week what the rate of child benefit is in the Republic, Mr Adams said that he did not know.
Asked what the southern VAT rate is, he again said that he was unaware of the figure.
He also used an RTE interview last week to say “We will negotiate with the bond market,” something which is impossible as markets, unlike governments, cannot enter negotiations.
A poll yesterday suggested that Mr Adams is less popular than his party in the Republic.
Just seven per cent of those polled for The Sunday Business Post said that they wanted to see Mr Adams as Taoiseach, despite 13 per cent saying that they would support Sinn Fein in the February 25 Irish general election.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
