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Ian Paisley to be suspended from House of Commons for 30 days DUP MP Paisley faces suspension over Sri Lankan holidays
(35 minutes later)
A parliamentary watchdog has recommended that Ian Paisley be suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days. The DUP's Ian Paisley is in danger of being forced to stand down as an MP and face a by-election after being found to have beached parliamentary rules.
It follows claims that he did not declare £100,000 in hospitality from the Sri Lankan government. The MP faces a 30 day suspension after he failed to declare the details of two family holidays in 2013 paid for by the Sri Lankan government.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found the North Antrim MP had breached three Westminster rules. The claims first appeared in the Daily Telegraph in September 2017.
Mr Paisley referred himself to the commissioner when the allegations first emerged in September 2017. Mr Paisley said he accepted the decision but took issue with the Daily Telegraph's "sensationalised report".
The claims first appeared in the Daily Telegraph. He said he would further address the issue in the House of Commons on Thursday.
The sanction could trigger a process at Westminster which could lead to a by-election in North Antrim.
Mr Paisley referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards when the allegations first emerged.
At the time, Mr Paisley, a Democratic Unionist, dismissed them as being "devoid of fact or logic".At the time, Mr Paisley, a Democratic Unionist, dismissed them as being "devoid of fact or logic".
The commissioner recommended that Mr Paisley be "suspended from the service of the House for a period of 30 sitting days starting on 4 September 2018". The paper claimed Mr Paisley and his family enjoyed two holidays in Sri Lanka in 2013 paid for by the government.
He has also been ordered to register any benefits he received from the Sri Lankan government. Recall Petition
Parliamentary rules The Standards Commissioner investigation focused on whether or not the MP breached the rules in respect of the members register of financial interest.
The newspaper alleged the DUP MP and his family enjoyed two all-expenses paid holidays to Sri Lanka in 2013. The 30-day ban, if accepted, could trigger a Recall Petition by which an MP can lose their seat if 10% of the eligible electorate in their constituency signs a petition.
It claimed they flew business class and stayed in luxurious hotels. But the MP would be free to stand again in the subsequent by-election and it is understood Ian Paisley has indicated he would do so.
It was estimated the trips cost about £100,000 and were paid for by the Sri Lankan government. Under the Recall of MPs Act, which came into effect in 2016, MPs who are convicted of a criminal offence and jailed, barred from the House of Commons for 10 sitting days or convicted of providing false information on allowance claims can lose their seat if there is a successful petition to recall them.
The newspaper went on to claim that Mr Paisley later met Sri Lankan officials to discuss post-Brexit trade deals. Rules breached
The commissioner had been examining if Mr Paisley breached parliamentary rules in respect of the Register of Members' Financial Interests. In her report to the Standards Committee the Standards commissioner found that Mr Paisley breached the House Rules on the following
After considering the report and "the seriousness of this matter" the Standards Committee recommended "that Mr Paisley be suspended from the service of the House for a period of 30 sitting days starting on 4 September 2018".
They also required that Mr Paisley register the benefits he received from the Sri Lankan government which will be italicised in the register to indicate that they are a late entry.