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| MPs to decide on Ian Paisley punishment | MPs to decide on Ian Paisley punishment |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MPs will decide at Westminster later if the DUP's Ian Paisley should be suspended from the House of Commons for breaching parliamentary rules. | MPs will decide at Westminster later if the DUP's Ian Paisley should be suspended from the House of Commons for breaching parliamentary rules. |
| Mr Paisley is facing a 30-day ban for failing to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. | Mr Paisley is facing a 30-day ban for failing to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. |
| That would be one of the longest bans to be handed down at Westminster. | That would be one of the longest bans to be handed down at Westminster. |
| The North Antrim MP has since apologised, but he may yet be forced to stand down and face a by-election. | The North Antrim MP has since apologised, but he may yet be forced to stand down and face a by-election. |
| Writing in his local paper, the Ballymena Guardian on Tuesday, Mr Paisley insisted he would contest any such election. | |
| If 10% of his constituents sign a petition, then an election will be called. | |
| If MPs accept the recommendation of the Standards Committee Mr Paisley would be out of the chamber for 30 sitting days. | If MPs accept the recommendation of the Standards Committee Mr Paisley would be out of the chamber for 30 sitting days. |
| That means he would be absent for some key Brexit votes. | That means he would be absent for some key Brexit votes. |
| Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI political correspondent | |
| Much of what Ian Paisley says in his local paper this morning was included in his speech to Westminster when he apologised for not declaring two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. | |
| He says he is now prepared for whatever punishment comes his way. But he also talks up his track record in the constituency - and some might see that as an early pitch to voters who may have to return to the polls. | |
| He describes those pushing for a by-election as "opportunists". He also says he has never run away from an election before and does not plan to do so now. | |
| His fate is now in the hands of MPs who, if they accept the recommendation of the standards committee, will exclude Ian Paisley from the chamber for 30 days - one of the longest bans handed down at Westminster. | |
| Mr Paisley failed to declare two luxury family holidays in 2013 paid for by the Sri Lankan government. | Mr Paisley failed to declare two luxury family holidays in 2013 paid for by the Sri Lankan government. |
| He later lobbied the then prime minister on the country's behalf. | He later lobbied the then prime minister on the country's behalf. |
| If his ban is rubber stamped on Tuesday, he could face a by-election if 10% of the eligible electorate in his constituency signs a petition. | If his ban is rubber stamped on Tuesday, he could face a by-election if 10% of the eligible electorate in his constituency signs a petition. |
| His party is also considering if it should take action against him. | His party is also considering if it should take action against him. |
| DUP party officials met at the weekend but have yet to announce what action, if any, is to be taken | DUP party officials met at the weekend but have yet to announce what action, if any, is to be taken |