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| Spotlight: Sir Alistair Graham calls for probe into Northern Ireland MLAs' rent money | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former chairman of a Westminster standards watchdog has called for an investigation into societies that receive public money in rent from MLAs for their constituency offices. | The former chairman of a Westminster standards watchdog has called for an investigation into societies that receive public money in rent from MLAs for their constituency offices. |
| It follows a BBC investigation into how assembly members use their expenses. | It follows a BBC investigation into how assembly members use their expenses. |
| Spotlight examined the way MLAs use public money to rent their offices. | Spotlight examined the way MLAs use public money to rent their offices. |
| It revealed that Sinn Féin paid office rent to three different cultural societies, including rent for Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. | It revealed that Sinn Féin paid office rent to three different cultural societies, including rent for Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. |
| However, it was not clear what the societies were or who was behind them. | However, it was not clear what the societies were or who was behind them. |
| The former chairman of a Westminster standards watchdog, Sir Alistair Graham, said it needed to be investigated. | |
| "It sounds to me that there is a real danger that these so-called cultural bodies are rather bogus organisations which is a way of channelling public money to political parties and there clearly should be some detail investigation," he said. | "It sounds to me that there is a real danger that these so-called cultural bodies are rather bogus organisations which is a way of channelling public money to political parties and there clearly should be some detail investigation," he said. |
| Sinn Féin said it complied with assembly rules and that the societies it pays money to, serve their communities. | Sinn Féin said it complied with assembly rules and that the societies it pays money to, serve their communities. |
| There were also questions about why the DUP's Arlene Foster used an office rent free from a businessman, she also bought property from. | There were also questions about why the DUP's Arlene Foster used an office rent free from a businessman, she also bought property from. |
| Whilst not disputing this, the DUP said no rules were broken. | Whilst not disputing this, the DUP said no rules were broken. |