This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44932312
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Ian Paisley: MPs vote to suspend North Antrim MP for 30 days | Ian Paisley: MPs vote to suspend North Antrim MP for 30 days |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs have voted to suspend DUP MP Ian Paisley for 30 sitting days. | MPs have voted to suspend DUP MP Ian Paisley for 30 sitting days. |
| 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. | 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. |
| He has also been suspended by the DUP "pending further investigation into his conduct". | He has also been suspended by the DUP "pending further investigation into his conduct". |
| Speaker of the House John Bercow called it "a regrettable state of affairs". | 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. | 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. |
| The Recall of MPs Bill became law in 2015 under the coalition government. | The Recall of MPs Bill became law in 2015 under the coalition government. |
| Sir Kevin Barron, chair of the Standards Committee, said they had concluded Mr Paisley was guilty of "serious misconduct and his actions were of a nature to bring the House of Commons into disrepute". | Sir Kevin Barron, chair of the Standards Committee, said they had concluded Mr Paisley was guilty of "serious misconduct and his actions were of a nature to bring the House of Commons into disrepute". |
| He also said the inquiry into Mr Paisley could have been concluded earlier: "The process could have been considerably shorter if Mr Paisley had been more cooperative initially." | He also said the inquiry into Mr Paisley could have been concluded earlier: "The process could have been considerably shorter if Mr Paisley had been more cooperative initially." |
| Sir Kevin said Mr Paisley did show a "greater sense of urgency" in the later stages of the investigation. | Sir Kevin said Mr Paisley did show a "greater sense of urgency" in the later stages of the investigation. |
| This is one of the longest bans ever to be handed down at Westminster. | |
| According to the House of Commons library, it is the longest suspension since 1949 which is as far as online records go. | |
| 'He's a Paisley' | |
| Analysis by political correspondent Gareth Gordon | |
| Suspended by fellow MPs, and now the party his late father once ruled without dissent, these are difficult days for Ian Paisley Jnr. | |
| It's not the first time he's fallen foul of the DUP leadership but this is by far the most serious. | |
| He's made it clear he intends to fight any subsequent by-election. But what will the DUP leadership do? | |
| Some would undoubtedly like to say farewell to him for good. | |
| But... first of all he's a Paisley. | |
| Secondly, he's popular with the unionists of North Antrim who may not forgive the party if it cast him permanently aside. | |
| The DUP had to do something and they've done it. | |
| But the smart money says that after a period of suspension, Ian Paisley will still be the DUP candidate should North Antrim go to the polls before the end of the year. | |
| Mr Paisley has insisted he will fight any by-election to save his Westminster seat if he is forced to stand down. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| DUP statement | |
| The Officers of the Democratic Unionist Party have considered the report of the House of Commons Committee on Standards on Ian Paisley MP. | The Officers of the Democratic Unionist Party have considered the report of the House of Commons Committee on Standards on Ian Paisley MP. |
| The Party takes this report and the matters contained within it very seriously. | The Party takes this report and the matters contained within it very seriously. |
| The Party Officers have decided to suspend Mr Ian Paisley MP from membership of the Party pending further investigation into his conduct. | The Party Officers have decided to suspend Mr Ian Paisley MP from membership of the Party pending further investigation into his conduct. |
| The Party does not intend to make any further comment on these matters during the course of the above outlined process. | The Party does not intend to make any further comment on these matters during the course of the above outlined process. |
| 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. |