NORTH Thanet MP Roger Gale has condemned Government proposals to let Sinn Fein MPs use the facilities of the House of Commons.

Former Speaker Betty Boothroyd ruled in 1997 that members who refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen would be banned from using the house facilities.

Sinn Fein oppose British rule in Ireland and all four of their elected members have refused to take the oath.

Mr Gale, Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, said: ”I regard this as a gross act of appeasement and I hope that when the proposal is debated next week it will be thrown out by the house.

“At a moment when we are living under heightened security procedures we appear to be seriously contemplating allowing those who are closely associated with terrorism into the heart of parliament.”