One relative only
With the new Stormont Code of Conduct due to set up a register of family members benefitting from MLA allowances, the SDLP is proposing that MPs should be allowed to emply only one relative.
The suggestion is contained in the party's evidence to Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life. The SDLP also suggests that MP's pay should be "in keeping with comparable levels in the senior civil service or in the private sector".
Sir Christopher Kelly's commitee is due to visit Belfast on Wednesday next week. On 18th May the DUP published some of its proposals for the Committee's review of MPs expenses, including the direct employment of all MPs' staff by Westminster. You can find these proposals on the DUP's News Archive, but so far the only full submission from a local party to appear on the Public Standards Committee's website is from the SDLP.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~13~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Mark,
What is the Robinson clan going to do? Sign on in their local benefit office!!
Stormontspy
Complain about this comment
Mark
DUP DELAYING TACTICS ON EXPENSES
The following is an extract from the DUP's proposals to Sir Christopher Kelly:
"A record of all costs incurred will be retained and should be published periodically by the House of Commons, as is the case in the Scottish Parliament. If this fails to occur, the DUP will ensure that the figures relating to our Members will be made publicly available."
Why delay? If the DUP have nothing to hide they would let us see their unredacted receipts from the restoration of the Assembly in March, 2007.
In my opinion, Robinson is scared stiff of "the disinfectant of sunlight" that independent audit would bring to their outrageous claims. I bet the DUP's shredders are working at full tilt.
PS to Stormontspy: The Robinsons could get round the 'one relative only' rule by putting their children up for adoption. The downside would be that the adoptive parents would have to endure visits by Peter & Iris. Anyway, don't worry, the family won't starve. Peter will make sure there'll always be plenty of food on the table.
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
Stormontspy, great idea but what would they be qualified for? To Susie I could not agree more with your comments,and now Paisley senior has stated he may stand again for Westminister suggests that Peter has lost control and the DUP has to revert to bringing back the old brigade to try and stop the exodus to their former colleague
Complain about this comment
Sorry folks, wheres the delay?
Scotland issues their unredacted receipts every quarter. That is a sensible time frame, unless you would rather have the staff of your elected representatives or aseembly, putting recipets on as and when they occur. somewhat bureaucratic and wasteful of time one would have thought.
Susie with your talk or shredders etc you cleary have no idea how the current system works. It is no the DUP who have a record but the assembly itself. If you want the figures published since 2007 then it is the assembly who approved the claims that has all the info. Party workers working in dark rooms shredding things is more watergate than stormontgate.
As for PAisley condsidering standing....has anyone thought that maybe thats what the polls say. Even on BBC newsline after the election for europe the people interviewed in ballymena who voted TUV said they would have voted for Paisley just Diane was a weak candidate.
It may not be panic...just common sense. A unionist colossus versus a man who wants SInn Fein to be the biggest party in Northern Ireland. Straight forward answer for a unionist constitutuency I think.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Mark
Following the Moderators reaction to Posts 5 & 6 Im giving this one another go.
THE ROYAL MINT & PAISLEY SENIOR ARE CONJOINED
FACT: Ian Paisley Senior was First Minister from May 2007 until May 2008.
FACT: Paisley Senior had a poor attendance record at Westminster during 2007/08 (Cf They Work For You.com),
FACT: Paisley Senior claimed the maximum permitted of 400 pounds per month food allowance from the Mother of Parliaments from May 2007 until March 2008(Cf HOC website).
QUESTION: Is it possible for Paisley Senior to be in two places at the same time?
Oh, and a word to Madge...........Im not allowed to say it.
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
Susie,
Well done you have made it a hat-trick. I think I can guess what you said!!
Stormontspy
PS Only a day after the DUP away day on how to win back votes from Jim Allister, the DUP have been hot footing it to Dublin with Sinn Fein with Policing and Justice in mind. Whatever happened to Nigel Dodd's "not in a political life time"
Complain about this comment
Entry 4 - majesticfilibuster:
SUSIE NOT HAVING A CLUE?
I am sure Susie will respond to your comment herself, but in her defence, I have to say that of all the bloggers on The Devenport Diaries - Susie is one who is 'clued in' to the political scene in Northern Ireland.
Pandora
Complain about this comment
Stormontspy
BACK O'THE NET
Thank you, Stormontspy, for your good wishes.
I do feel rather pleased with myself.
But let's keep our focus.
Here are some tips on what you can't mention in Devenport Diaries:
- Paisley Senior's Food Allowance claims of four hundred pounds a month between May, 2007 and March, 2008 when he was serving as Joint First Minister;
- his attendance record at Westminster when he was Joint First Minister; and
- do not attempt to link his claims for four hundred pounds a month Westminster Food Allowance with his attendance record at the Mother of Parliaments.
Oh, and don't mention Madge!
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
Susie and others,
Paisley has been an MP for quite some time.
Northern Ireland MPs generally have little influence and restricted speaking priviledges.
Labour has an inbuilt majority in committee and plenary sessions of the house. Maybe he doesnt waste time where he can be ignored, but instead uses what influence he has in meetings with departments and ministers. Like in 2007 when the DUP flew regularly to Downing Street about the financial package. Memories can be rather short susie when it suits!
Its not beyond belief to see that expense claims could be made for duties other than actual votes or speeches. The two do not need to correlate.
Complain about this comment
majesticfilibuster,
So you'll be voting for your local Conservative & Unionist candidate at the next general election then? To solve this problem of NI MPs having no influence and little chance to speak (not that the current lot are ever there anyway).
Complain about this comment
Madge
GREED IS GOOD: THE DUP MAKE GORDON GEEKO LOOK ALTRUISTIC
My goodness, Madge, you're a trier, I'll give you that (you don't work in the DUP Press Office, do you?).
By my reckoning, the amount of four hundred pounds per month that Paisley Senior receives in Westminster Gravy, sorry, Food Allowance exceeds the total amount going into between 15 and 23 per cent of households in Northern Ireland (if John Simpson is reading this Blog, perhaps he might care to provide the actual figure).
Madge, Baby, let's put this issue to bed. Just give me details of Paisley Senior's visits to London on parliamentary business during his tenure as Joint First Minister. That way, we can all work out whether or not his claims were reasonable.
I bet your response will be more obfuscation. I have to say you DUP shower are expert in "clouding the issue" when your backs are against the wall.
Looking forward to your response, Madge.
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
majesticfilibuster,
What a load of rubbish.
You said "Northern Ireland MPs generally have little influence and restricted speaking priviledges." Then you said "Its not beyond belief to see that expense claims could be made for duties other than actual votes or speeches. The two do not need to correlate."
If MP's claimed per speech or question asked some would never get any wage. Then what about the leader of the parties they would earn a fortune. What Susie said and I totally agree is that Paisley spent very few hours in Westminster for 2007/2008 yet claimed the maximum a month. Either he was being generous with his expenses or he was having a feast once a month!!!
Stormontspy
Complain about this comment
Stormont spy you missed my point.
When Paisley et al flew over to discuss financial packages and policing and justice, and to oppose the extension of the abortion act to northern Ireland, to oppose the goods and services act that unfairly hit Christian organistions such as adoption agenicies and B&B's, or when they discussed the increase in funding for ulster scots through the british irish funded cross border bodies, or when they tried to get the new offence of death by careless driving with its harder sentences extended to Northern Ireland, when they approached the British exchequer on behalf of the dairy industry, eel fishermen, salmon salt water farms, to plan the investment conference, when they met in the Irish embassey in London about the Boyne site...should I go on or do you get it now?
Not all parliamentary business takes place in the commons. Not all decisions are taken by a vote of all MPs. It is conceivable that an MP, say, oh i dunno Paisley, could be in London on official business without actually voting or speaking in the commons. And if he is on official business he is allowed to claim expenses to cover the costs.
Clear enough Stormont spy?
Complain about this comment
As for UCUNF...no i wont vote for them.
I want principled representatives. I could have overlooked the conservatives lack of willingness to understand ulster protestantism and its heritage and culture, but then it went and linked up to the UUP.
Unforgiveable mistake....as one famous actor once said...in character...my good favour once lost, is lost forever.
Trimble who so quickly lost favour in Northern Ireland for his repeated policy shifts after elections, despite his 22 odd UU ruling council meetings, is now a main advisor on Northern Ireland. I have already rejected his disaterous power grab at expense of principle.
The fact the tories think it is good to link with him and the UUP in general beggars belief and make me wonder about their political character. Then they oppose grammar schools, 68 % of parents here want them. The wont stop abortion coming to northern ireland on demand despite every political party here, pup aside, opposing it.
No, I'll take the effective representation of Northern unionists any day, despite the lack of access and power on committee and the floor of the house.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS