Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
This is not an orange and green issue ..it is about trust in politics
Sinn Fein on bid to unseat Paisley as first recall petition opens
A BID to force a by-election that could unseat North Antrim MP Ian Paisley is about restoring trust in politicians, a critic said yesterday.
The first ever recall petition opened yesterday after the senior DUP man was suspended from the Commons for 30 sitting days over his failure to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan Government.
Mr Paisley could become the first MP to lose his seat under legislation introduced by the former coalition government following the Westminster expenses scandal, although the DUP has a massive majority in North Antrim.
Should 10% of the electorate, or 7,543 people, sign the petition, then a by-election will be held.
Mr Paisley is currently suspended from the DUP pending an internal investigation.
If he loses the backing of Northern Ireland’s largest unionist party, his prospects for re-election would be damaged.
Sinn Fein MLA Philip Mcguigan said: “This is an issue of integrity in Government, it is not an orange and green issue.
“This is not even about nationalism versus unionism.
“This is an issue about trust in your politicians that they will do their jobs with integrity.”
In March 2014, the senior Democratic Unionist lobbied the Prime Minister against a proposed United Nations resolution to investigate alleged human rights abuses during a civil war on the Indian Ocean island without disclosing his financial benefit.
Mr Paisley has already apologised for what he said was his “unintentional failure” to register the hospitality, which he estimated was worth £50,000.
He has vowed to fight any by-election campaign.
The DUP’S 10 pro-brexit MPS are crucial allies of the Prime Minister’s minority Government.
The recall petition will be open for signing for six weeks.
SDLP politician Declan O’loan said he was the first person to sign the petition in Ballymena, Co Antrim, which has been dominated by Paisleyism for generations.
Mr Paisley has been MP for the constituency since 2010, following in the footsteps of his father and DUP founder Ian Paisley.
The petition can be signed at three centres in Ballymena, Ballymoney and Ballycastle.