Pragmatism pumps through Sinn Féin’s veins

The party suffers from an absence of a truly defined ideological edge

Gerry Adams: “We have something that is based upon building political strength. And electoralism is a very key part of all that although it isn’t in its entirely.”
Gerry Adams: “We have something that is based upon building political strength. And electoralism is a very key part of all that although it isn’t in its entirely.”

The sight of Charlie Flanagan and Theresa Villiers, the Northern Secretary, arriving at Stormont to meet the five main party leaders did not have quite the impact as when the likes of Mo Mowlam, Peter Mandelson, David Andrews or Liz O’Donnell swooped into Belfast. But then brokering ...