Paisley could resign before poll deadline
Move would sink petition and pave way for October by-election
IAN Paisley may stand down as North Antrim MP when the House of Commons sits again in three weeks, unionist sources have said.
The move would automatically end a petition of recall and would allow for a by-election as early as October 4.
An early by-election — which Mr Paisley would then be favourite to win — would limit the number of days he is absent from the Commons and would mean he wouldn’t miss knifeedge Brexit votes.
Unionist sources said Mr Paisley’s resignation would be the “most sensible option” for him as it allowed him to take control of the situation.
The MP was suspended after failing to declare two luxury holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.
IAN Paisley may consider resigning as North Antrim MP next month, unionist sources have said.
They told the Belfast Telegraph that Mr Paisley could stand down on September 4, the day the House of Commons returns from its summer recess.
His resignation would automatically end a petition of recall and would allow for a by-election as early as October 4.
With Parliament rising for the conference season, an early by-election — which Mr Paisley would be favourite to win — would limit the number of days he is absent from the House of Commons and would mean he wouldn’t miss any key Brexit votes.
The North Antrim MP’s absence for a longer period in October and November could cause serious problems for Theresa May’s embattled minority Government in knife-edge votes.
The sources said Mr Paisley’s resignation would be the “most sensible option” for the politician, as it allowed him to take control of the situation.
The DUP declined to comment on the possibility of the MP resigning next month.
“Ian Paisley is suspended from the party pending the outcome of further investigation,” a spokesman said.
Mr Paisley wasn’t available for comment.
The MP was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days following a major breach of parliamentary rules.
He failed to declare two luxury holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.
A petition of recall, which allows North Antrim voters to have their say on their MP, opened last week in the constituency.
If 7,543 people sign the petition — 10% of the electorate — then a by-election will be held.
The petition, which is due to run until September 19, is the first of its kind in UK parliamentary history.
Mr Paisley’s suspension from the House of Commons begins on September 4, when MPs return to Westminster.
If Mr Paisley announced his resignation that day, the DUP could swiftly move the writ for the by-election, which can be held in 21 working days, allowing North Antrim to go to the polls on October 4, unionist sources said.
If he were to win the by-election as expected, Mr Paisley would only be missing from the chamber for just over a week as Parliament rises for the party conference season on September 13, and doesn’t return until October 9.
He could then be back in the chamber to support Mrs May when parliamentary business resumed.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Office last night moved to allay concerns that the names of those signing the recall petition may end up in the public domain.
The office said the marked register wouldn’t be made available to the public or the political parties after the poll closed.
Only the number of people signing and turnout will be released.
The petition can be signed at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena, the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney, and Sheskburn House Recreation Centre in Ballycastle.
Several political parties have criticised the arrangements.
Sources told the Belfast Telegraph that the original room allocated for polling in Ballymena’s Seven Towers Leisure Centre was moved after Sinn Fein complained that voters could be viewed by those in the centre’s cafe.
The Ulster Unionists then complained about t he new room. UUP leader Robin Swann said: “It was down two flights of stairs and through three sets of heavy fire doors. It was hard for people to find and we had obvious concerns for elderly and disabled voters. My party was in touch with the Electoral Office and voting was moved back to the original room.”
Chief electoral officer Virgina McVea said: “The Electoral Office had moved voting to a second room to improve privacy. But the second room proved too awkward to access and as a result we have returned to the first room where we have satisfied any concerns about privacy.”
Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan said he had “taken part in treasure hunts that have been easier” than finding the second voting room.
He also criticised a lack of signage in the Ballymoney centre yesterday.