Sinn Féin really must make more of an effort to keep its website up to date. One of it key leaders makes an important speech to a completely fresh audience and there’s no mention of it. We have to rely on papers with a longstanding anti-Republican bias for information about Martin McGuinness’ fringe meeting at the Tory conference.  There is a history of Republican interventions at Tory conferences but it hasn’t really involved fringe meetings chaired by Lord Glentoran.

Not unreasonably as the monkey to Peter Robinson’s organ grinder Martin McGuinness is worried about the impact of the Con Dem cuts on the northern state’s budget. David Cameron had pledged £18 billion for infrastructure projects, which in an area with a population of under two million is serious dosh. It seems that Cameron may have had his fingers crossed behind his back when he made the promise as McGuinness points out  “he uttered those words on the steps of 11 Downing Street” a location which makes it the equivalent of a sacred oath.

McGuinness’ entire strategy for resisting the cuts that will devastate the northern economy seems to be appealing to the better instincts of the leader of the Conservative Party. Here’s what he says:

“I absolutely do believe that if they renege on the commitments that were made they are dishonouring an agreement signed up with the Irish Government and the Executive.”

For such an experienced politician this unwillingness to believe the worst of the British ruling class is quite touching. He hasn’t actually said that his party’s ministers and councillors will refuse to implement cuts and, as the advert for their Dublin event shows, they display no sense that workers and service users might have a role to play in fighting back.

The oddest thing is that some people still argue with a straight face that Sinn Féin is a left party. Not even David Miliband would have spoken at the Tory conference.