Gerry Adams has no 'truck' with titles

LONDON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Longtime Northern Irish Republican leader Gerry Adams insisted Wednesday he is not the Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, whatever the prime minister says.

Adams has resigned his seat in the British Parliament to run in the upcoming election in the Republic of Ireland. His appointment as Steward and Bailiff comes from an ancient British rule that legislators can only resign to take "an office of profit under the Crown," The Guardian said.

The head of Sinn Fein and former prisoner of the Crown was a bit testy when he learned Prime Minister David Cameron had joked about the change during question time.

"I was not consulted nor was I asked to accept such an office," Adams said. "I am an Irish republican. I have had no truck whatsoever with these antiquated and quite bizarre aspects of the British parliamentary system."

Adams called his appointment a "bizarre development" and said he was sure the burghers of Northstead are as "bemused" as he is.

While he has represented West Belfast in Parliament for almost 30 years, Adams has never actually taken his seat in Westminster.