Boothroyd to discuss office in Commons with Adams

Betty Boothroyd, the Speaker of the Commons, is to meet the Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein party leader, Martin McGuinness over their demands for an office at Westminster.

They both won seats at the general election but were not allowed to take them up, because they refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

The Speaker ruled they should not have offices in the Commons until they took their seats, and the discussions are an attempt to break the deadlock, but no date has been set.