Paisley begs to keep job after rule breach
THE DUP’s Ian Paisley begged his constituents to retain confidence in him during an emotional House of Commons apology for a major breach of British parliamentary rules.
The North Antrim MP has faced calls to quit and the prospect of a by-election after a parliamentary watchdog recommended he be suspended from the Commons for 30 days for failing to register two family holidays funded by the Sri Lankan government.
The watchdog’s report said the cost of the hospitality may have been ‘significantly more’ than Mr Paisley’s £50,000 (€56,000) estimate, with the holidays including business-class air travel, accommodation at first-class hotels and more for him and his wider family.
The trips also included meeting with Sri Lankan governmental figures. The threshold for registering such hospitality in 2013 was around £660 (€739).
In March 2014, Mr Paisley lobbied against a proposed UN resolution to investigate human rights abuse allegations aimed at Sri Lanka, with the committee noting that the financial benefits were not declared in his letter to the then UK prime minister David Cameron.
Mr Paisley said it was with ‘profound personal regret and deep personal embarrassment’ that he had to acknowledge that he failed to declare and register the two trips.
But he denied he had any ‘ulterior motive for that genuine mistake’ in 2013, adding that he accepted his ‘total failure’ and offered another unreserved apology ‘without qualification’.
His voice cracked with emotion as he told the Commons: ‘I say sorry and apologise for the failings identified in the Standards Committee report.’ Mr Paisley said his constituents have given him ‘unwavering support’ since 2010, adding: ‘I hope they will continue to have that confidence in me.’
The Commons Standards Committee outlined the sanction for Mr Paisley, son of late DUP founder the Rev Ian Paisley, saying he had committed ‘serious misconduct’ and that his actions ‘were of a nature to bring the House of Commons into disrepute’.
Mr Paisley said he was disappointed he could not persuade the committee about the strength of his arguments and mitigation, adding that he accepted the report, although he did ‘regret’ the sanctions.
He went on: ‘It is to my constituents, who have sent me here since 2010, that I make the profoundest of all apologies.’
Mr Paisley’s suspension would start in September, if MPs approve it. Members suspended from the Commons for more than ten days are open to a recall petition. A by-election would be triggered if 10% of the electorate in Mr Paisley’s North Antrim constituency sign that petition.
The suspension would also mean prime minister and Tory leader Theresa May will be shorn of one of the ten DUP MPs propping up her minority government.
Accepted his ‘total failure’