THE British government yesterday moved to heal the rift between London and Dublin following Monday's statement by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, who said that a vote for Sinn Fein was a vote for peace. Mr Spring's controversial comment angered unionists in Northern Ireland who described his statement as "outrageous".
Senator Shane Ross called on Mr Spring to resign and said the Tanaiste's "extraordinary statement beggared belief".
During a visit to Derry yesterday, the North's Health Minister, Mr Tony Worthington, said the issue would be raised at tomorrow's meeting between Mr Spring and the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam. "The only peace that matters is a ceasefire, an absolutely unequivocal ceasefire," he said. "That is the evidence that Sinn Fein can give about peace and that is what I am interested in and I am not becoming involved in Irish politics.
"We will hear what Mr Spring has to say, but let's not go by words, let's go by deeds, let's have a ceasefire," he said.