Another council by-election
I have just finished presenting this weekend's "Inside Politics". My main guest Jim Allister predicted that his party would force another council by-election, this time in Ballymoney, after the resignation of the DUP Councillor Roy Wilson. So could this be another Dromore?
Whilst we were on air the DUP rang up to deny Mr Allister's assertion that Councillor Wilson had resigned from the party. They said his decision to step down from the council was a personal matter not connected witht he party policy on power sharing.
Either way the contest, as Mr Allister maintained, should prove interesting given the focus on North Antrim in the run up to the next Westminster election.
Jim Allister also talked about the Larry Zaitschek case, his annoyance at Peter Robinson supposedly lumping anti-power sharing unionists together with dissident republicans as "wreckers" and the recent erratic behaviour of Ballymena Councillor Robin Sterling (who does not look as if he will be expelled from the TUV).
During discussions with my two guests, Politics Professor Rick Wilford and former civil servant Bill Smith, we covered a number of topics including Westminster expenses in the wake of the Daily Telegraph story on Jeffrey Donaldson, the likelihood of the mandatory coalition being repleced by a voluntary coalition and the supposed diary mix up which saw Martin McGuinness walking in to Downing Street to discuss policing and justice on his own. Rick pointed out that the current mandatory coalition, for all its faults, is more voluntary than people sometimes concede as any of the parties could walk away. Bill, wearing his civil service hat, reckoned that, when it came to the dairy mix up, the "cock up" theory might be more persuasive than the conpiracy one.
Amazingly, on a Drumcree Sunday, we didn't touch on parading. That would not have been imaginable 12 years ago.
I'm 
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Does anybody have any thoughts (humourous or otherwise) on what films Jeffrey was watching in London? And I thought MP's were supposed to be working late for their constituents rather than sitting on their own watching pay per view films.
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All MP's have had a chance to review their entire claims as part of the redacting process, and plenty of motivation over the last month to go back and check if there is anything that on reflection they wish to reconsider.
There is no longer any creditability is saying oops and offering to pay it back. Jeffrey like all the rest who are now being found out clearly have no respect for the public, he has kept his head down and hoped he would not be found out and only attempts to be honourable after the spotlight has fallen on him too little too late time to resign!
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Perhaps remarkableSJR should read the article again, it says he has "repaid" not he has been asked to repay as he seems to be suggesting.
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Shandon
GOOD QUESTION
A good question and one that deserves serious consideration.
I have difficulty remembering movie titles but I have given a lot of thought to the titles of the 68 films that Jeffrey claimed for on his Westminster expenses. So here goes with my attempt at naming the 68 titles that Jeffrey might possibly have watched using taxpayers' money. Apologies if I haven't got the exact titles but here are my top 10 of possibles:
* SOME LIKE IT HOT
* DEEP MOAT
* SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN SISTERS
* CARRYON POLITICIAN
* THE BLUES BROTHERS
* PORN FREE
* LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKIN' CAROLS
* LUST IN TRANSLATION
* CANE AND ABEL
* DIE HARD
I wonder what Jeffrey thinks of my selection.
Susie
Carryduff
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'AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER'
Very clever Susie. However, I don't think the issue should be about what films Jeffrey Donaldson paid to view while in his hotel room in London. The fact that he thought the taxpayer should pay for his entertainment while there is what annoys me.
If Mr Donaldson had decided to have a night at the opera, the ballet or the theatre, did he think we should have paid for these too?
Pandora
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languishing_first my point is he's repaying/repaid as a result of the article he has not repaid without being found out. (and as of yesterday morning his party leader was unsure if he has actually repaid as yet)
Were it not for the article at the weekend we would not have been reimbursed.
its all about Greed and lack of respect quite frankly 7 days into the whole MP's expenses scandal every single one of them could, and should have reviewed their claims and repaid anything that on reflection didn't appear too good. weeks on they get no sympathy from me and no respect. these leaders of our nation have all kept their heads in the sand and hoped they would not get found out rather than having the dignity and decency to apologise and hand back the cash BEFORE the press got to them.
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Pandora
DON'T MESS WITH JEFFREY'S TUTU
You're quite right at Post 5 to chide me about not focusing on the real issue which is misuse of taxpayers' money.
Put simply, these people are living a lie in their pretence of care for the needs of the people while raking in the spoils through abuse of the expenses regime. The hypocrisy is breathtaking and the greed is insatiable.
Your reference to Jeffrey at the ballet creates an image I don't want to retain but I'm quite sure he would be happy to attend as long as it was free gratis.
Susie
Carryduff
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