Petition to unseat MP Paisley starts after free holidays row

IAN PAISLEY could become the first MP recalled from Parliament after he failed to declare luxury holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

A “recall petition”, the first of its kind, opened yesterday in the DUP MP’S constituency. If 7,547 constituents sign it, Mr Paisley will lose his seat and a by-election will be triggered.

The petition was launched as a result of an investigation by The Daily Telegraph which revealed Mr Paisley had received hospitality for his family worth tens of thousands of pounds.

He later lobbied the Government on behalf of Sri Lanka, while not disclosing the trips. Last month, MPS voted to suspend Mr Paisley for a record 30 sitting days, triggering the recall procedure in North Antrim, his constituency, in accordance with a new law which came into force in 2016.

Philip Mcguigan, a Stormont assembly member for Sinn Fein, said: “This is an issue of trust in your politicians, that they will do their job in public office with integrity.”