VOTERS in North Antrim in Northern Ireland could be about to become the first in the UK to force their MP out of office.
The DUP’s Ian Paisley Jr has been suspended by the House of Commons authorities for 30 sitting days after he failed to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.
In March 2014, Paisley lobbied the then prime minister David Cameron against a proposed United Nations resolution to investigate alleged human rights abuses during a civil war on the Indian Ocean island all without saying that he had financially benefited.
Paisley has already apologised for what he said was his “unintentional failure” to register the hospitality, which he said would be worth around £50,000.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards, however, estimated that the trips would have cost “significantly more” given that they included business-class air travel, accommodation at luxury hotels, and helicopter trips.
Legislation introduced by the former coalition government following the Westminster expenses scandal means that if 10% of the electorate – around 7543 people in North Antrim – sign an Electoral Office petition, then an MP will lose their seat, forcing a by-election.
Paisley’s jaunt to Sri Lanka has also seen the MP suspended by the DUP. And if a by-election is called it could mean one of Northern Ireland’s most famous unionists standing as an independent against the party his father set up.
But Sinn Fein’s Stormont Assembly member Philip McGuigan said it was wrong to think of this as a political, or a unionist versus nationalist argument.
“This is an issue of integrity in Government, it is not an orange and green issue.
“This is not even about nationalism versus unionism.
“This is an issue about trust in your politicians that they will do their jobs with integrity.”
The legislation allows for up to 10 centres to be set up, but much to the concern of opposition politicians, the Electoral Office have only opened three, in Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle.
McGuigan said in a rural constituency such as North Antrim the lack of places to sign the peition “greatly reduces people’s ability to reject Ian Paisley’s disgraceful behaviour”.
The recall petition is open for signing for six weeks. Paisley’s suspension begins in September.
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