The MacBride Principles generated not only considerable hostility but also, very flatteringly, imitation. Four different and rival sets of principles were produced, but only three were published. The attitude of the SDLP's membership to the publication of the MacBride Principles was ambivalent. At its Derry conference, Dick Spring, the Tánaiste, condemned them. Among the rank and file of SDLP members the situation was far more fluid. An eloquent and influential Belfast councillor, Brian Feeney, had welcomed Goldin's American Brands initiative. He was a councillor for North Belfast where Gallagher's, the American Brands subsidiary, was situated. He noted that Goldin was not advocating disinvestment. The Irish Times reported that at a mid-year meeting of party members, ‘the discussion was dominated by employment policy, with an apparent groundswell in favour of the MacBride principles’. The paper reported that the SDLP leadership was not opposing the Principles per se, but it did not wish the party to publicly support them because of the attitude of the Irish, UK and US governments.