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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ian Paisley: DUP MP keeps seat after recall petition | Ian Paisley: DUP MP keeps seat after recall petition |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Ian Paisley has retained his seat as an MP after fewer than 10% of his constituents signed a petition that would have forced a by-election. | Ian Paisley has retained his seat as an MP after fewer than 10% of his constituents signed a petition that would have forced a by-election. |
| It was triggered after the DUP MP was suspended from Westminster for failing to declare two holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. | It was triggered after the DUP MP was suspended from Westminster for failing to declare two holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government. |
| Mr Paisley said the electorate had "clearly spoken" and thanked his backers for their "unwavering support". | |
| The petition was the first in UK Parliamentary history. | The petition was the first in UK Parliamentary history. |
| It was open for six weeks at three North Antrim constituency centres. | It was open for six weeks at three North Antrim constituency centres. |
| The petition needed 7,543 signatures - or 10% of Mr Paisley's constituents - to force a by-election and cause Mr Paisley to lose his seat. | The petition needed 7,543 signatures - or 10% of Mr Paisley's constituents - to force a by-election and cause Mr Paisley to lose his seat. |
| Mr Paisley, who lobbied on the Sri Lankan government's behalf after the holidays, said: "In July I apologised for a mistake made almost six years ago. | Mr Paisley, who lobbied on the Sri Lankan government's behalf after the holidays, said: "In July I apologised for a mistake made almost six years ago. |
| "The electorate was asked to pass judgment - 90.6% have accepted my apology. | "The electorate was asked to pass judgment - 90.6% have accepted my apology. |
| "The electorate has clearly spoken. | "The electorate has clearly spoken. |
| "I would like to thank my true friends, family, the electorate who have stood by me with unwavering support. Hallelujah." | "I would like to thank my true friends, family, the electorate who have stood by me with unwavering support. Hallelujah." |
| 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. |
| The Speaker of the House John Bercow was first to be notified before the result was posted online. | The Speaker of the House John Bercow was first to be notified before the result was posted online. |
| Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann said he would "caution Ian Paisley not to see this as some sort of victory or endorsement of his actions in acting as a paid advocate for a foreign government and bringing North Antrim and the House of Commons into disrepute". | Ulster Unionist Party Leader Robin Swann said he would "caution Ian Paisley not to see this as some sort of victory or endorsement of his actions in acting as a paid advocate for a foreign government and bringing North Antrim and the House of Commons into disrepute". |
| He suggested that Mr Paisley "should demonstrate some humility". | He suggested that Mr Paisley "should demonstrate some humility". |
| Sinn Féin North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan said: "The issues raised by this scandal are not going away and neither are the questions for the DUP leadership." | |
| Analysis: Narrow margin in recall petition | |
| Enda McClafferty, BBC News NI Political Correspondent | |
| If the petition was to succeed then it needed the support of at least 10% of the electorate in North Antrim. It got 9.4% and was 444 signatures short. | |
| That means Ian Paisley will remain in the seat his family has held for almost 50 years. | |
| He wasn't there for the count this morning but was told the news in a text from the Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea. She defended how the process was managed. | |
| Mr Paisley can now look forward to returning to the House of Commons, once he serves the remainder of his 30 day ban from Westminster. | |
| Mr Paisley's 30-sitting day suspension from the House of Commons began on 4 September, and is one of the longest-ever bans to be handed down at Westminster. | Mr Paisley's 30-sitting day suspension from the House of Commons began on 4 September, and is one of the longest-ever bans to be handed down at Westminster. |
| According to the Commons library, it is the longest suspension since 1949, which is as far as online records go. | According to the Commons library, it is the longest suspension since 1949, which is as far as online records go. |
| In July, after Westminster's standards committee announced its recommendations, Mr Paisley apologised for his behaviour in the Commons. | In July, after Westminster's standards committee announced its recommendations, Mr Paisley apologised for his behaviour in the Commons. |
| The DUP also suspended Mr Paisley "pending further investigation into his conduct". | The DUP also suspended Mr Paisley "pending further investigation into his conduct". |
| Mr Paisley's family has held the North Antrim seat for nearly 50 years. | Mr Paisley's family has held the North Antrim seat for nearly 50 years. |
| Key points from the standards committee's findings |