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Ian Paisley will fight for seat if forced to stand down Ian Paisley: MPs vote to suspend North Antrim MP for 30 days
(about 4 hours later)
The DUP's Ian Paisley has insisted he will fight a by-election to save his Westminster seat if he is forced to stand down. MPs have voted to suspend DUP MP Ian Paisley for 30 sitting days.
Mr Paisley is facing a 30-day ban from the House of Commons for failing to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. It follows his failure to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. He will be absent from Parliament for some key Brexit votes.
MPs will decide later if he should be suspended. If he is, he would be absent for some key Brexit votes. He has also been suspended by the DUP "pending further investigation into his conduct".
If 10% of his constituents sign a petition, a by-election will be called. Speaker of the House John Bercow called it "a regrettable state of affairs".
Mr Bercow will now formally inform the chief electoral officer of the decision and she has ten working days to set up a petition which, if signed by 10% of North Antrim constituents will lead to a by-election and Mr Paisley having to stand down.
Sir Kevin Barron, chair of the Standards Committee, said they had concluded Mr Paisley was guilty of "serious misconduct".
Mr Paisley has insisted he will fight any by-election to save his Westminster seat if he is forced to stand down.
Mr Paisley's party plays a pivotal role in supporting Theresa May's minority government.
In June 2017, an agreement was reached that the 10 DUP MPs would back the Tories in key Commons votes.
Writing in the Ballymena Guardian on Tuesday, the North Antrim MP said he was prepared for whatever punishment came his way.Writing in the Ballymena Guardian on Tuesday, the North Antrim MP said he was prepared for whatever punishment came his way.
He called those pushing for such an election "opportunists", but made it clear that he would not run away from any challenge.He called those pushing for such an election "opportunists", but made it clear that he would not run away from any challenge.
If MPs accept the recommendation of the Standards Committee, Mr Paisley would be out of the chamber for 30 sitting days. This is one of the longest bans ever to be handed down at Westminster.
That would be one of the longest bans ever to be handed down at Westminster. DUP statement:
If his ban is rubber stamped on Tuesday, he could also face a by-election if 10% of the eligible electorate in his constituency signs a petition. The Officers of the Democratic Unionist Party have considered the report of the House of Commons Committee on Standards on Ian Paisley MP.
Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI political correspondent The Party takes this report and the matters contained within it very seriously.
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. The Party Officers have decided to suspend Mr Ian Paisley MP from membership of the Party pending further investigation into his conduct.
While he says he is prepared for whatever punishment comes his way, 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. The Party does not intend to make any further comment on these matters during the course of the above outlined process.
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.
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