West Belfast by-election and the writ
As the by-election moves closer, Peter Cheney analyses the process and recalls a 30-year old precedent.
The Government will move the writ for the West Belfast by-election but only after the Assembly poll, the NIO has confirmed. The by-election is expected in June; the Commons summer recess starts on 19 July. Sinn Féin is widely expect to hold the seat.
Two months on from Gerry Adams leaving for Louth, West Belfast is the only unrepresented constituency the British Isles. Its 60,817 voters will have no MLAs until the Assembly election results are known and no MP until the by-election takes place.
Sinn Féin cannot move the writ as it abstains from Westminster. Abstentionist MPs cannot draw a salary but can claim expenses e.g. for a constituency office.
In a writ, the Queen formally asks the returning officer (the Chief Electoral Officer in Northern Ireland in this case) to “cause election to be made according to law of a Member to serve in Parliament”.
The only precedent is the Fermanagh and South Tyrone by-election held after Bobby Sands’ death. Sands died 30 years ago on 5 May, which makes this year’s polling day highly symbolic for republicans.
That writ was moved by Plaid Cymru MP Dafydd Elis-Thomas on 28 July 1981. Elis-Thomas, who is now a lord, has been the Welsh Assembly’s Speaker since 1999 and is currently running for re-election in Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
Lord Elis-Thomas told agendaNi that his motivation was “that no seat in an elected legislature should be left vacant and its electorate unrepresented”. Gerry Fitt, who was then West Belfast’s MP, objected, claiming that “the House may be condemning hunger strikers and others to death”. It was agreed later that day without a division.
“While the Government did not move the motion nor request me to do so,” Elis-Thomas added, “there were consultations between myself and other parties including the Government, and other business managers [whips].”
The by-election was subsequently held on 20 August 1981 and was won by Owen Carron, Bobby Sands’ election agent.
Adams was appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead on 26 January, a position he retains despite his election to the Dáil on 25 February.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said that the party has not asked any sitting MPs to move the writ. “That’s another option if another party wants to do it,” he remarked. “As far as we’re concerned, the resignation has gone in and it now lies with the British Government.”
In the meantime, West Belfast constituents can take their cases to four neighbouring MPs: Alasdair McDonnell, Nigel Dodds, Jeffrey Donaldson and the Reverend William McCrea.
