The party have refused to take their seats since their first MP was elected in 1917
Sinn Féin's policy of abstention from Westminster has been one that has stayed the course of the party for more than 100 years. The policy mimics the example of how Hungary seceded from the Austrian Empire to become the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary with their representatives refusing to go to Vienna or to recognise Austrian authority.
In 1917 the party committed itself to establishing an Irish republic for the first time and in the 1918 election, they won 73 of the 105 seats with their candidate Countess Constance Markievicz becoming the first woman ever elected to the UK House of Commons. The party established the Garland Commission in 1967 to look at ending it's policy of abstentionism which eventually led to a split in the party in 1970 when a motion to end it's policy of abstentionism at the Dáil, Stormont and Westminster failed to get a two-thirds majority at their Ard Fheis.
Another reason why Sinn Féin's MPs refuse to sit in Westminster is due to the requirement to take an Oath of Allegiance to King Charles, his heirs and successors. As a republican party, it is a matter of principle for them not to recognise the authority of the British monarchy.
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