Earlier today that UK Prime Minister David Cameron said that Gerry Adams had accepted a post as Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of the Northstead in the process of resiging his seat in the House of Commons. (It’s Medieval but that’s what it appears that one has to do when one quits being an MP.)

It’s seems that Baron Gerry does not like his new appointment that much and said he had just quit his role as an MP. This thing might run a bit and we look forward to the Bailiff’s tales of his duties along the way as he travels through Louth looking for votes.

Mr. Adams has released a statement of denial.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams commenting on a claim by British PM
David Cameron that he has accepted a post as “Crown Steward and Bailiff
of the Manor of Northstead’ said:

“The only contact I have had with the British Parliament is a letter I
posted to them last Thursday.

“That letter said, ‘A chara, I hereby resign as MP for the constituency
of west Belfast. Go raibh maith agat. Gerry Adams’.

“When I was told of the British Prime Minister’s remarks today this was
the first I heard of this development. I understand Mr. Cameron has
claimed that ‘the Honourable Member for West Belfast has accepted an
office for profit under the Crown.’

“This is untrue. I simply resigned. I was not consulted nor was I asked
to accept such an office. I am an Irish republican. I have had no truck
whatsoever with these antiquated and quite bizarre aspects of the
British parliamentary system.

“I am proud to have represented the people of west Belfast for almost
three decades and to have done so without pledging allegiance to the
English Queen or accepting British parliamentary claims to jurisdiction
in my country.

“It was a wrench for me to give up the West Belfast seat. I am very
grateful to all those citizens who worked and voted for Sinn Fein
through good times and bad times in defiance of the British government
and its allies in Ireland. But I gave a commitment that when the
election to the Dáil was called I would resign the West Belfast seat to
stand for the Louth and East Meath constituency and I have.

“Mr. Cameron’s announcement that I have become Crown Steward and Bailiff
of the Manor of Northstead, wherever that is, is a bizarre development .
I am sure the burghers of that Manor are as bemused as me. I have spoken
to the Prime Ministers Private Secretary today and he has apologised for
today’s events.

“While I respect the right of British parliamentarians to have their own
protocols and systems, no matter how odd these may appear to the rest of
the world in general and Irish people in particular, the Prime Minister
should not make claims which are untrue and inaccurate. The onus is on
the Westminster parties to call a bi-election as soon as possible in the
West Belfast constituency. In the meantime let me assure the people of
West Belfast that the Sinn Fein party will continue to provide our first
class constituency service and representation.”