Republican News · Thursday 9 May 2002

May Day in Birmingham

Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McLoughlin travelled to England last week for a speaking tour at the invitation of the Troops Out Movement. The tour took him to venues in Nottingham and Birmingham, where he expressed Sinn Féin's solidarity with members of the Trades Councils.

At the Nottingham International Community Centre, courtesy of the Nottingham Trades Council, he participated in a positive questions and answers session.

At Birmingham's May Day Rally, the Sinn Féin councillor addressed a crowd of around 300 people. He spoke of the British government's obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and the need for them to implement it in full. "We in Sinn Féin have an obligation to the people of Ireland to ensure the success of the Agreement," he said. "I now remind the British government that they too have an obligation, now is the time for them to fulfil that obligation."

McLoughlin also raised the need for the British government to speed up the demilitarisation process and he spoke about the need for an accountable police service.

ANTHONY DONNELLY