Enniskillen Update
Candidates for the Fermanagh by-election, due to take place on 17th September, have been handing in their nomination papers today and can continue doing so tomorrow. A few new names have entered the fray. Karen McHugh, daughter of the Independent Republican MLA Gerry McHugh is in the race, as is Dr Kumar Kamble, an anaesthetist working at the Erne Hospital. He is standing for Alliance. The SDLP is fielding Rosemary Flanagan, an education adviser who chairs their Enniskillen Branch, whilst Sinn Fein's candidate is care assistant Debbie Coyle. They join the Ulster Unionist Basil Johnston and the DUP candidate Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster who is endeavouring to hold the seat which fell vacant after the death of Nigel Dodds' father Joe. So it's a packed field, even without the TUV.
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I cannot wait for this by election. In actual fact by elections can be more interesting than general elections. I know Mark you don?t cover Politics much in the rest of the UK unless it concerns Northern Ireland but what about the by election is Scotland planned for October/November time. This could see the end of Gordon Brown. How can he stay on if he is defeated? Also will he campaign for support in the constituency as after all he may be campaigning to save his job.
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Seems the dissident republicans had the guts to enter the race but the dissident unionists didn't.
Maybe that'll give the TUV time to respond to a few FOI requests about financial matters.
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Mark,
Will you as a Journalist inquire about Jim Allister's financial affairs or tell me who to write to? I am happy to.
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Folks
Hold the back page. Look at this from the DUP website - DUP Assembly Member for Strangford Simon Hamilton has asked Jim Allister to answer the following questions -
1. How much did Mr. Allister claim for travel expenses from the European Parliament since his election?
2. How much is each individual employee/service provider in his office paid from European funds?
3. Does Mr. Allister pay European funds to any family members? If so, what for?
4. Who administers his website? How much are they being paid for that?
5. How many trips has Mr. Allister taken since election to the European Parliament?
6. What was the total cost Mr. Allister claimed back from the European Parliament for travel expenses?
7. Have European Funds ever been used to pay office rent to the owner/owners of his office at any time?
I for one cannot wait for Jim's answer to this. I expect some of the office workers like traditional unionist could be on the rock and roll (dole) by the end of the week.
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so If Arleen is determined to join her DUP colleagues in becoming a double jobber and part time minister.. can we make her promise to only claim a part time salary and part time expenses and privileges? part time constituency funding? part time constituency staff? or perhaps she wants to job share with another colleague?
how can a jobs for the boys candidate be seen as a unity candidate?
and as per usual for the DUP - the mature platform she's running on "vote for Arleen or the shinners might get in"
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Thanks for the update from Enniskillen and all of the important information was learned from the session....
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