The decision by Sinn Féin to stand Martin McGuinness for the Irish Presidency has created considerable debate and controversy in the media and has caused much ire in some quarters. Sinn Fein say that McGuinness is the "People's Candidate" whilst others have argued that past actions make his candidacy ultimately untenable, but is there any substance behind these discussions?

It appears the Tory led coalition government in London is set to bring in measures to reduce corporation tax for big business in the North.

Despite issuing numerous statements opposing the £4 billion in cuts to the NI block grant from Westminster, all the SF Executive ministers have drawn up departmental budgets that implement the cuts.

The failure of Northern Ireland Water to provide water to tens of thousands of homes in the North during the harsh winter weather is an indictment of the Stormont Executive’s policies of privatisation, and public sector cutbacks.

Just weeks after 40,000 homes had their water cut off, Sinn Fein minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, who is in charge of water supply, released his draft budget which contained cuts of 25% in planned spending on water infrastructure.

Sinn Fein’s surge in the polls in the South of Ireland co-incided with its support for the budget in the North. The contrast illustrated the two faces of Sinn Fein politics.

Anyone still living with the delusion that
Sinn Fein is a party of the Left should look up its latest pronouncement on law
and order.

Eamonn McCann looks at the different stances of Sinn Fein North an South following recent defections of elected members

At the Dublin City Council Budget meeting on 21 December
2009, Killian Forde proposed the budget as Chair of the Finance SPC and voted
in favour of it. As a Sinn Fein member he was apparently, in breach of his
party’s mandate.

Brass Neck of the Year award goes to Jim Gibney of Sinn Féin for his column in the Irish News on November 12th, writes Eamonn McCann

In the last issue of Socialist Worker we printed an article by Eamonn McCann criticising Sinn Fein's joining in the meeting with the Israeli ambassador's visit to the north. Here is a response from Sinn Fein and our reply to this.