Sinn Féin cannot criticise rival nationalists for endorsing Northern Ireland's police if it is prepared to do the same on the back of commitments made by Mr Blair last year, the SDLP leader said today.
Mr Mark Durkan said Sinn Féin's criticism of the SDLP did not hold after party chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin signalled republicans would join the Policing Board if the British government honoured pledges to toughen police reforms.
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Mr Mark Durkan
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Stressing his party's desire to take part in the new policing arrangements, Mr McLaughlin said: "When and if he [Mr Blair] gets round to making these necessary amendments to the legislation, and producing and delivering on his commitment to Patten, then Sinn Féin will step up to the mark".
In August last year, the SDLP became the first nationalist party in the history of Northern Ireland to endorse the police, taking its three seats on the board.
Sinn Féin's refusal to take its two seats on the board meant extra places went instead to Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionists, which has four members and the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists, who have three.
Mr Durkan today accused Sinn Féin of trying to "play both sides" of the policing debate. He said: "On the one hand, Sinn Féin has appeared quite prepared to dangle speculation that it is going to face up to its responsibility and go on the board and on the other, it has been quite eager to indulge in propaganda against those participating in the policing arrangements.
"Mitchel McLaughlin's comments are interesting because he has indicated that provided the policing legislation is amended as Tony Blair has committed himself to, Sinn Féin will go on the board. Those commitments were made at the Weston Park talks last year on the basis of the efforts of the SDLP and the Irish Government.
Mr Durkan said "the question arises as to how Sinn Féin can sustain the propaganda it has used against the SDLP with respect to plastic bullets, Special Branch and the performance of the police along the interface areas?"
PA