A British Conservative Party bid to strip Sinn Féin MPs of their Westminster offices has been defeated in the House of Commons.
Conservatives called for Sinn Féin's four MPs, led by Mr Gerry Adams, to be denied access and allowances unless they fully renounced violence.
But the move, which came after alleged IRA breaches of its ceasefire and the Belfast Agreement led to the return of direct rule from London, was defeated by 336 votes to 140, a British government majority of 196.
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Mr Quentin Davies said the granting of Commons privileges last year to the four MPs was "obnoxious".
The criticism has arisen because the MPs' refusal to swear the oath of allegiance to the British Crown.
Mr Davies called on them "to renounce the IRA, to renounce the armed struggle definitively, to abolish their military structures and to complete decommissioning in accordance with the Agreement".
But newly appointed Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy said the Belfast Agreement - not expelling Sinn Féin from Westminster - was the only way to restore trust in the peace process.
On his first appearance at the despatch box since he took over the post last week, Mr Murphy pledged to restore power to the Northern Ireland Executive "at the earliest opportunity".
PA