Michelle Gildernew 'disappointed' at losing Sinn Féin job
The former Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew has spoken of her "disappointment" at having her employment contract ended by the party last month.But Gildernew, who was an elected representative for Fermanagh and South Tyrone at both Stormont and Westminster for more than two decades, said she was "ready to do something different".Speaking to BBC News NI she said she had "no complaints" about how the party handled her exit and that she remains a member."It was a proper meeting, all above board, it was handled very professionally... but yeah I was disappointed," she said.
"None of us are owed anything, the party and the cause of Irish freedom and unity is bigger than any one individual."I'm still an activist and a member of Sinn Féin, I will always be an advocate for Irish unity."She said she was "very lucky" to have other opportunities to now look to.Last year, Gildernew stepped down from her role as an MP to run in the European Parliament, but she failed to win a seat.
Relationship with O'Neill 'okay'
At the time, Sinn Féin's deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said there would "absolutely have to be a role for Michelle going forward".Gildernew said she had not spoken to O'Neill since she had been informed her contract was being ended by Sinn Féin, but described her relationship with the first minister as "okay".In her last paid role for Sinn Féin Gildernew was part of the team conducting the internal governance review ordered in the aftermath of last year's safeguarding scandals on either side of the border.The 55 year old said she had never seen herself as a politician, and said she had "served" the Sinn Féin leadership well."Nobody's journey in life always goes smoothly, I have to look at opportunities now and it'll give me the chance to do something different," added Gildernew."I have had the privilege of working with some extraordinary people north and south."The party has to get bigger and encourage more people to vote for Sinn Féin, we will never see the transition to Irish unity without a Sinn Féin government."I still want to see the achievement of the thing I've been working towards my entire life."Gildernew added that she had "probably" given up further aspirations of being an elected representative again, but said she did not "at this stage" see herself quitting membership of the party as she remained a committed republican.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
44 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Nigel Farage is clearly unfit to govern Britain
For a party which, rightly in my opinion, calls out the failures of multiculturalism, Reform UK should have had a view on the burqa. Whether that garb represents a rejection of British culture and the repression of women, or whether it is simply a matter of personal choice, Reform should have had a settled position on it. It did not. Sarah Pochin, one of its MPs, is seemingly against it and Zia Yusuf, its now erstwhile chairman, is not. The party's failure to have a line on a subject, raised no less by Pochin at PMQs, is symptomatic of a greater problem within Reform. It has no settled political philosophy. This is evident from manifold self-contradictory statements made by Farage himself. He is on the record saying he is not concerned about the rate of demographic change in the country, though he is worried about the cultural damage being done to our country. They are two sides of the same coin. On that same point, he would be prepared to consider a return of Shamima Begum to the country. He is against illegal migration but has no intention of deporting all illegal migrants. He claims to stand up for the United Kingdom but readily accepts that Northern Ireland will inevitably be united with Ireland. He recognises the urgent need to cut government spending and reverse the culture of dependency, but would remove the cap on benefits for more than two children. His lack of a coherent philosophy is also evident in the people he has recruited into the party. Nick Candy, his treasurer, is a Blairite. He offered to put forward Charlie Mullins, an avowed Remainer, as a candidate. Even Pochin, a former Tory, had previously welcomed Syrian and Afghan asylum seekers. He has recruited councillors and members from all parts of the political spectrum – from Labour and Tory to the Liberal Democrats. There is no heart and soul in Reform. It is merely a campaigning vehicle for Farage to capitalise on the discontent with Labour and the Tories. It is a protest party. The events of the last few days also reveal, yet again, Reform lacks discipline. How is it that an MP would ask a question in Parliament which would so offend the chairman? And why did the chairman then feel able to publicly denounce her as 'dumb'? Farage is Reform and Reform is Farage. He likes it that way. He has seemingly failed to establish a proper party structure and constitution. I campaigned hard last year for the party's democratisation. I did so in part so that it would have in-built checks and balances. With due processes established, there would have been no way for an MP to go off-piste in Parliament or for the chairman to then make a fool of himself. If Reform intends to be the antidote to the nation's woes, Farage needs to honestly reflect on recent events. He must realise the party needs a coherent political philosophy and policies which flow from this. He must establish foundations for the party which allow it to function and grow as a proper organisation. Reform is doing extremely well in the polls. If sustained, this could propel it into office. The party therefore has an obligation to take itself seriously and do the heavy lifting required to form a successful government. The sort for which we all so yearn. Farage is a brilliant and cunning campaigner. But he proves, time and again, that he is not fit to create a government or lead it.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Trump will come out on top in his battle with Musk
In the end it was always bound to get messy – how could it not? Two bombastic billionaires aligned by ambition and imperiousness – an unlikely bromance fuelled by an unquenchable attraction to both legitimacy and impunity. But here we are – barely four months after joining him in the Oval Office, Tesla-chief Elon Musk has not merely fallen out with his presidential benefactor: he's taking their battle public. On Thursday, Musk – now finished leading Trump's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency – 'went nuclear,' as the New York Post phrased it, accusing the president of covering up his cameo in the infamous Jeffrey Epstein sex-crimes saga. 'Time to drop the really big bomb,' posted Musk on Twitter Thursday afternoon. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public,' he added as he teased an Epstein-related bombshell. The daggers come as Musk takes aim at Trump's massive One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which bundles together much of the president's key legislative objectives. The bill has already passed in the House, but Musk wants Congress to 'kill it.' His beef: among other provisions, the ending of tax credits for electric vehicles (like Musk-made Teslas) which was approved by former president Joe Biden. As both Trump and Musk know well, the truth around the Epstein affair matters far less than the fact that the two men are fighting about it. Even if Musk uncovers some sort of sexual salaciousness, it's unlikely to matter – both to Trump, nor his base, who are fully aware of (and unbothered by) the President's messy amorous history. What really matters is Trump – both his tendency for prolonged distractions (such as Musk!) and his zeal for heart-daggering retribution. Still Musk, despite lacking presidential powers, cannot be easily taken down – after all his perch exists because the president placed him there. But neither can Musk simply dismiss Trump outright. Ever skilful with a threat, Trump has already warned that he could withhold 'billion and billions of dollars' in federal funding for Musk-related companies, such as Tesla and Space X. Little doubt Trump could easily identify billions more. But cutting Musk's cash flow won't come without consequence: SpaceX, for instance, forms much of the transport network needed to maintain the International Space Station. Yet Trump's barbs matter just as much – Tesla's stock sank nearly 10 per cent on Thursday in response to the Trump-Musk kerfuffle. Considering the stock is already trading 40 per cent below its 52-week high, Musk could face internal pressure to tone things down if his feud with the president deepens. It likely will – at least in the short term. After all, neither Trump nor Musk shy away from conflict and both view adversarialism as a necessary tool of conquest. Both certainly have the required ammunition – billions of dollars, wholly-owned social media platforms and eager, sycophantic fan bases. But Trump – clear-eyed against Musk's alleged drug-taking – will likely wind up the winner. Having poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Trump's campaign, Musk clearly craves a return on his investment. He had one when he was hanging in the Oval, but now cast adrift he's clearly resentful and seeking vengeance. Trump, however, wants nothing nor really needs nothing from Musk – except, when the time comes, to simply be left alone. For men like Musk and Trump – consumed with attention and approval – indifference may prove the most potent poison of all.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Trump v Musk: The big, beautiful bust-up everyone knew was coming
And so, in the end, it was the big, beautiful bill that prompted the big, beautiful bust-up almost everyone knew was coming. Ever since the Trump and Musk alliance was formed almost a year ago, megalomaniac watchers the world over have been asking when and how it would end. Now we have our answer; 137 days into Trump's presidency and with the fire-powered ferocity of one of Musk's rocket launches. At times, it felt voyeuristic to watch, the kind of rubbernecking that takes place with the ugliest of celebrity breakups. It's a Brangelina inside the beltway, but with implications far beyond it. Because Musk was as close to the president as anyone outside his own family. He spent weekends living at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, his mum attended parties there, his son wiped his bogies on the resolute desk. But like so many domestic disputes, it got very messy, very quickly. As always when Trump has something to say, he waits for the inevitable question. It came immediately after his meeting inside the Oval Office with German Chancellor Freidrich Merz. A journalist asked about Musk's criticism of his "big, beautiful" bill. Trump saw his opening. "I've always liked Elon. I'd rather have him criticise me than the bill," he said, quickly noting that he and Musk had a great relationship. "I don't know if we will anymore," he added. Less than half an hour later, a post on X by Musk made it very apparent that they would, indeed, no longer have a great relationship. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," he wrote. It was a torpedo that unleashed an, at times, unhinged back and forth including an unfounded allegation from Musk about Trump being part of the "Epstein files". Just a week after Trump presented Musk with a golden key in a grand farewell, Musk was burning the house down. But this break up will affect everyone involved, not to mention the American public. Brand Trump will be damaged by the loss of Musk's endorsement and loyalty. 5:17 Republican politicians will be wary of angering Musk by voting for Trump's spending bill. The world's richest man has shown he is willing to put his money on the line in election races and the midterms are looming. The government's reliance on Musk's companies is also huge. Space X is the key player in space exploration and Musk has been providing invaluable advice to the White House on artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. What will now happen to the Department of Government efficiency? 1:48 Meanwhile shares are down significantly at all of Musk's companies with Trump likely to seek vengeance. There could also be an investigation, now, into allegations that Musk's drug use while in government was out of control. There are so many unknowns and one certainty - there are no winners here, apart from the comedians who trade in jokes about this pair of impulsive billionaires.
