The Gerry Adams story which gets more bizarre by the day
This Gerry Adams story gets more bizarre, and funnier, by the day.
And now it seems that David Cameron got it slightly wrong in announcing at Prime Minister's Questions that Adams had "accepted an office of profit under the Crown" to become Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
He even mocked him as "Baron of the Manor of Northstead".
Only it wasn't quite true.
Gerry Adams denies he's applied for the post. He'd merely written to the Speaker John Bercow to say he was resigning. And later Adams claimed that Cameron's private secretary had apologised to him for making the mistake.
Even though he didn't APPLY for the job of Crown Bailiff, it seems the Republican leader was appointed to the post nonetheless, and so Adams is no longer MP for West Belfast.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 26th Jan 2011, worcesterjim wrote:Rivetting
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Comment number 2.
At 26th Jan 2011, jauntycyclist wrote:the bizarre bit is the role gamers nonsense. who is still living in the 16th century?
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Comment number 3.
At 26th Jan 2011, Justin wrote:You see! Every-ones a winner! Unionists can crow about Gerry Adams being under the employ of the crown. Republicans can complain about the British state forcing there will on the Irish people which they have not succumbed to. And I can gloat to myself about David Cameron making yet another statement that had to be "clarified" shortly after he made it.
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Comment number 4.
At 26th Jan 2011, jauntycyclist wrote:cameron is a bullingdon muppet
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Comment number 5.
At 26th Jan 2011, barriesingleton wrote:WOULD YOU ADAMS AND EVE IT?
Will Adams' face have to be blanked out, and replaced by a photograph of - er - Adams, until all this is cleared up?
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Comment number 6.
At 31st Jan 2011, John Crowley wrote:Gerry Adams has the highest personal vote in the whole of Ireland; he will soon be a T.D. for Louth. He's a great man, no wonder you Brits are trying to claim him, to the extent of 'honouring' him with archaic titles. You in England must find your own Gerry Adams: the Irish one is already spoken for.
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