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03/08/2018
UUP Hits Out Over North Antrim Petition Centres
The UUP has hit out after it was revealed that the Chief Electoral Officer is to open only three recall petition centres in North Antrim.
MPs voted to suspend DUP MP Ian Paisley for 30 sitting days after he failed to declare two holidays funded by the Sri Lanken government.
People are being urged to sign a petition which could force a by-election in the area.
An election will take place if 10% of constituents sign the petition.
UUP Leader Robin Swann said he was disappointed that only petition centres are to open.
He said: "Not only are three petition centres totally inadequate for a constituency the size of North Antrim, by restricting the opening hours to mainly 9am-5pm from Monday-Friday the Electoral Office have shown little regard to people in daytime employment.
"I suspect that this very limited provision, both in terms of locations and timings, will lead to a larger than usual request for postal votes, and whether rightly or wrongly, this may well lead to accusations of voter identity abuse.
"The Ulster Unionist Party will not register as a campaigner during the recall petition, but we would encourage any North Antrim electors who think what Ian Paisley did was wrong to sign the petition and allow the entire North Antrim electorate to have their say."
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan said: "It is extremely disappointing that the Electoral Commission has decided to only open three centres with limited opening hours for the recall petition.
"This is simply not good enough.
"It greatly reduces people's ability to reject the disgraceful behaviour of Ian Paisley in accepting lavish family holidays from the Sri Lankan government before lobbying against a UN investigation into war crimes and human rights abuses.
"North Antrim is a large constituency and Sinn Féin proposed that the recall petition should be available in as many as ten local government offices."
(CD)
MPs voted to suspend DUP MP Ian Paisley for 30 sitting days after he failed to declare two holidays funded by the Sri Lanken government.
People are being urged to sign a petition which could force a by-election in the area.
An election will take place if 10% of constituents sign the petition.
UUP Leader Robin Swann said he was disappointed that only petition centres are to open.
He said: "Not only are three petition centres totally inadequate for a constituency the size of North Antrim, by restricting the opening hours to mainly 9am-5pm from Monday-Friday the Electoral Office have shown little regard to people in daytime employment.
"I suspect that this very limited provision, both in terms of locations and timings, will lead to a larger than usual request for postal votes, and whether rightly or wrongly, this may well lead to accusations of voter identity abuse.
"The Ulster Unionist Party will not register as a campaigner during the recall petition, but we would encourage any North Antrim electors who think what Ian Paisley did was wrong to sign the petition and allow the entire North Antrim electorate to have their say."
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan said: "It is extremely disappointing that the Electoral Commission has decided to only open three centres with limited opening hours for the recall petition.
"This is simply not good enough.
"It greatly reduces people's ability to reject the disgraceful behaviour of Ian Paisley in accepting lavish family holidays from the Sri Lankan government before lobbying against a UN investigation into war crimes and human rights abuses.
"North Antrim is a large constituency and Sinn Féin proposed that the recall petition should be available in as many as ten local government offices."
(CD)
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31 August 2018
Sinn Féin Backs Campaign To Oust Paisley
Sinn Féin MLAs and MPs from across Northern Ireland have come together to back the recall petition campaign in Ballymena to oust disgraced North Antrim MP Ian Paisley from office. The petition is set to close on 19 September. North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan said there is anger right across the political spectrum at the behaviour of the DUP MP.
Sinn Féin Backs Campaign To Oust Paisley
Sinn Féin MLAs and MPs from across Northern Ireland have come together to back the recall petition campaign in Ballymena to oust disgraced North Antrim MP Ian Paisley from office. The petition is set to close on 19 September. North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan said there is anger right across the political spectrum at the behaviour of the DUP MP.
24 July 2018
Ian Paisley Suspended From House Of Commons
DUP MP Ian Paisley is to be suspended from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days. MPs voted to suspend Mr Paisley after he failed to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. His absence is expected to last until October and he will not receive a salary for a month.
Ian Paisley Suspended From House Of Commons
DUP MP Ian Paisley is to be suspended from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days. MPs voted to suspend Mr Paisley after he failed to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. His absence is expected to last until October and he will not receive a salary for a month.
19 September 2018
Paisley Petition Closes Today At 5pm
A recall petition calling for a by-election to contest suspended North Antrim MP Ian Paisley will close today at 5pm. The petition was launched after the DUP MP was suspended from both Westminster and his own party after it was found that he had failed to declare two family holidays to Sri Lanka.
Paisley Petition Closes Today At 5pm
A recall petition calling for a by-election to contest suspended North Antrim MP Ian Paisley will close today at 5pm. The petition was launched after the DUP MP was suspended from both Westminster and his own party after it was found that he had failed to declare two family holidays to Sri Lanka.
20 September 2018
Ian Paisley Keeps Seat After Recall Petition
Mr Ian Paisley has kept his seat as an MP in Westminster after less than 10% of constituents in North Antrim signed a petition that would have forced a by-election. The MP, who has also been suspended from the DUP, failed to declare two holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Mr Paisley welcomed the outcome.
Ian Paisley Keeps Seat After Recall Petition
Mr Ian Paisley has kept his seat as an MP in Westminster after less than 10% of constituents in North Antrim signed a petition that would have forced a by-election. The MP, who has also been suspended from the DUP, failed to declare two holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Mr Paisley welcomed the outcome.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
