Via LBC.

Martin McGuinness, former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister for Sinn Fein and former IRA chief, has died aged 66. Theresa May’s statement:

“First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of Martin McGuinness at this sad time. While I can never condone the path he took in the earlier part of his life, Martin McGuinness ultimately played a defining role in leading the Republican movement away from violence. In doing so, he made an essential and historic contribution to the extraordinary journey of Northern Ireland from conflict to peace. While we certainly didn’t always see eye-to-eye even in later years, as deputy First Minister for nearly a decade he was one of the pioneers of implementing cross community power sharing in Northern Ireland. He understood both its fragility and its precious significance and played a vital part in helping to find a way through many difficult moments. At the heart of it all was his profound optimism for the future of Northern Ireland – and I believe we should all hold fast to that optimism today.”

Jeremy Corbyn:

“Martin McGuinness played a huge role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland. He was a great family man and my thoughts are with them… 

I was very sad to hear of the death of Martin McGuinness this morning, and I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to his wife Bernie and his family. Martin McGuinness played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Ireland, after years as a key protagonist in the tragedy of the conflict. Martin played an absolutely crucial role in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and a peace process which, despite difficulties, remains an example throughout the world of what can be achieved when the will is there. As we reflect on his role, the past twenty years have shown us that if there is leadership and the will on all sides, we can achieve change.”

Norman Tebbit:

“I’m just pleased that the world is a sweeter and cleaner place now. He was not only a multi-murderer, he was a coward. He knew that the IRA were defeated because British intelligence had penetrated right the way up to the Army Council and that the end was coming. He then sought to save his own skin and he knew that it was likely he would be charged before long with several murders which he had personally committed and he decided that the only thing to do was to opt for peace. He claimed to be a Roman Catholic. I hope that his beliefs turn out to be true and he’ll be parked in a particularly hot and unpleasant corner of hell for the rest of eternity.”

RIP.

Martin McGuinness has resigned as Deputy First Minister in protest at the Renewable Heating Incentive scandal, the subsidies which allowed users to earn more cash the more fuel they burned, costing taxpayers nearly £500 million. The barmy policy meant you could turn the heating on, open the windows and receive taxpayer subsidies. McGuinness quitting means Arlene Foster’s position is effectively now untenable. Election now inevitable… 

With Jeremy Corbyn & the comrades @ Portcullis House, Westminster. pic.twitter.com/A6Vgmaglsa

— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) July 21, 2015

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