North Antrim recall petition, 2018

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2018 10:20:33 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Here's the report: publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmstandards/1397/1397.pdf

Paisley isn't suspended until the full House votes for it (but no MP has been let off a punishment recommended by committee since 1977). It has significance in this thread because, for the first time, the provisions on recall will be triggered: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/25/pdfs/ukpga_20150025_en.pdf

July 18 2018


Ian Paisley could lose his Westminster seat following his proposed 30-day suspension from the House of Commons, according to Parliamentary rules.

The Petition to recall a Member of Parliament introduces a process by which an MP will lose their seat if a petition to recall them is successful.

The rules state that a recall petition can be called after the Speaker of the House of Commons notifies them that an MP has been barred from the House of Commons for 10 sitting days or 14 calendar days.

Once a Petition Officer has opened a recall petition, it will be open for signing for six weeks. If at least 10% of the electorate in the constituency signs the petition, the MP will lose their seat and a by-election will be triggered. The recalled MP can stand as a candidate at the by-election.

Mr Paisley's North Antrim constituency has an electorate of 75,657. In last year's general election he topped the poll with 20,643 votes. The other parties polled a combined 19,939 votes.

[Deleted]

Ian Paisley should not face any further punishment for breaching parliamentary rules, a fellow DUP MP has said.

Sammy Wilson told BBC NI's Sunday Politics that Mr Paisley had been punished "very severely" by the House of Commons and "that should be the end of the matter".

Mr Paisley apologised after failing to declare two family holidays in 2013 paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

Senior DUP members met on Saturday to discuss his future.

The outcome of that meeting is not yet known, but the party said it may issue a statement early in the week.

Mr Wilson said: "As far as I am concerned Ian Paisley has been punished by the House of Commons.

"He has admitted that he did wrong and he has apologised to the party, to parliament and to his constituents for that.

"I do not believe there should be any additional sanction imposed on him."


A parliamentary watchdog has recommended North Antrim MP Mr Paisley be suspended for the Commons for 30 days after he failed to declare the holidays and later lobbied the then prime minister on behalf of Sri Lanka.

He could also face a by-election if 10% of the eligible electorate in his constituency signs a petition.


Ian Paisley failed to declare two luxury holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government

East Antrim MP Mr Wilson said if there is a by-election then Mr Paisley "deserves to be a candidate".

"I have worked with Ian in the House of Commons, he is a great MP," he said.

"The reason he has a massive majority is because people in his constituency know that he works hard for them.

"I watch him in the House of Commons, he is one of the most diligent MPs."

On Saturday DUP MP for Lagan Valley, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, told the BBC Mr Paisley's behaviour had been unacceptable but that the party was not going to take "a lynch mob approach".

[Davıd Boothroyd]

The motion to suspend Ian Paisley is on the order paper for tomorrow. If approved his suspension would run for 30 sitting days from 4 September.

[timmullen1]

Jul 23, 2018 11:37:45 GMT @wattyler81 said:

Jul 23, 2018 11:19:24 GMT doktorb🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ said:

"Punished serverly" really? - slap on the wrist. Suspend him.

That’s almost certain to happen tomorrow, and for sitting days, so the Summer Recess won’t count, so unless there’s a snap by-election without him before September, Theresa is a vote down throughout September.

Wilson is an A-grade pillock, but the very lukewarm vote of confidence from Donaldson and the buck-passing from Foster do hint that Junior is in strife within the Party (who are maybe still chastened by the loss of Peter Robinson’s seat in 2010).

[neilm]

Does he lose salary etc while suspended?

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Jul 23, 2018 11:50:02 GMT neilm said:

Does he lose salary etc while suspended?

Yes: Standing Order 45A.

[LDCaerdydd]

Ian Paisley will fight for seat if forced to stand down

The DUP's Ian Paisley has insisted he will fight a by-election to save his Westminster seat if he is forced to stand down.

If 10% of his constituents sign a petition, then an election will be called.

MPs will decide later if he should be suspended from the House of Commons for breaching parliamentary rules.

Mr Paisley is facing a 30-day ban for failing to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44932312

Do we think any the petition will reach the threshold? Does anyone know/Has anyone worked out what the potential window to sign the petition would be?

[The Bishop]

Jul 24, 2018 10:23:38 GMT LDCaerdydd said:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44932312

Do we think any the petition will reach the threshold? Does anyone know/Has anyone worked out what the potential widow to sign the petition would be?

Erm........do you know something we don't?

[LDCaerdydd]

People here don't miss anything do they?

[timmullen1]

Jul 24, 2018 10:28:36 GMT The Bishop said:

Jul 24, 2018 10:23:38 GMT LDCaerdydd said:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44932312

Do we think any the petition will reach the threshold? Does anyone know/Has anyone worked out what the potential widow to sign the petition would be?

Erm........do you know something we don't?

Not really, the SDLP have already said they will attempt a recall if he’s suspended.

[Deleted]

More details:



www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/07/24/news/up-to-10-venues-would-be-made-available-to-sign-petition-to-oust-ian-paisley-1389704/

[Chris from Brum]

Hmm, he had a majority of over 20,000 last time. While that would obviously be reduced in a by-election, he has to be long odds-on to retake the seat, doesn't he?

[timmullen1]

Jul 24, 2018 11:49:48 GMT Chris from Brum said:

Hmm, he had a majority of over 20,000 last time. While that would obviously be reduced in a by-election, he has to be long odds-on to retake the seat, doesn't he?

There are a couple of potential hurdles:

How much of that 20,000 is a vote inherited from his father’s legacy and will slip because he’s betrayed that moral high ground?

We don’t yet know if the DUP will endorse him - Jeffrey Donaldson said a couple of times in that weekend interview “I’ll support the DUP candidate whoever it may be” - a hint the Party intend to disown him?

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Motion agreed. Paisley suspended as of 4 September.

Next stage is for the Speaker to give notice to the Chief Electoral Officer of Northern Ireland. Then the EONI has to publicise the places at which the recall petition can be signed.

[middyman]

Jul 24, 2018 15:33:14 GMT carlton43 said:

Jul 24, 2018 14:51:25 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Motion agreed. Paisley suspended as of 4 September.

Next stage is for the Speaker to give notice to the Chief Electoral Officer of Northern Ireland. Then the EONI has to publicise the places at which the recall petition can be signed.

Dear Woden!  What a poxy nation!

A family holiday in Ceylon. The horror of it. The terror. The crass enormity of it all. Dreadful man.

Burn him!  Burn him!!  Crucify him. End his career.

It was the way lefties slavered over the travelling 'Business Class'. The effrontery. The sheer wickedness of it all.

You utter tossers the lot of you.

In the debate it was stated that the total benefit could be in the order of £50,000 rather than the first quoted £10,000.  To make matters worse he lobbied the Government on behalf of Sri Lanka without declaring his interest.

[Sharon]

Jul 24, 2018 15:38:18 GMT middyman said:

Jul 24, 2018 15:33:14 GMT carlton43 said:

Dear Woden!  What a poxy nation!

A family holiday in Ceylon. The horror of it. The terror. The crass enormity of it all. Dreadful man.

Burn him!  Burn him!!  Crucify him. End his career.

It was the way lefties slavered over the travelling 'Business Class'. The effrontery. The sheer wickedness of it all.

You utter tossers the lot of you.

In the debate it was stated that the total benefit could be in the order of £50,000 rather than the first quoted £10,000.  To make matters worse he lobbied the Government on behalf of Sri Lanka without declaring his interest.

That, I suspect is the reason for the 30 day ban.  If it had just been the former, he would have had a slap on the wrist.

[Deleted]

What is a recall petition?
24 July 2018

What is a Recall Petition?

If a recall petition is called and you are a constituent of the area, you can sign a petition to have an MP removed

How do I sign the Petition?

A notice about the petition will be posted out to every constituent in that area. You can sign it, if you want, in a few ways.

Firstly, you can go in person to one of the places set up in the area. You will be told about these after a recall petition is announced. Or, without having to give a reason, you can ask to sign a petition by post and it will be sent to you. You can ask to sign the petition using a proxy. A proxy is someone who can sign the petition for you. You must apply to use a proxy and explain why you can’t reasonably be expected to sign the petition yourself. Information on how to do this will be provided.

How long does this all last?

The petition will be open for six weeks, from 9am-5pm week-days.

If 10% of constituents in the area sign it the MP will be removed and there will be a by-election. More information will be published on this site after hearing from Parliament.

From the Election Office Northern Ireland.

[timmullen1]

Jul 24, 2018 21:33:51 GMT @wattyler81 said:

Jul 24, 2018 15:38:18 GMT middyman said:

In the debate it was stated that the total benefit could be in the order of £50,000 rather than the first quoted £10,000.  To make matters worse he lobbied the Government on behalf of Sri Lanka without declaring his interest.

In which case, and despite carlton43 view, he clearly deserved suspension. Every MP knows the rules or in case of doubt asks.  I hope the righteous folk of North Antrim take their indignation to the ballot box.

Equally, being suspended “pending further investigation into his activities” by the DUP (hardly ever regarded as a bunch of bleeding heart leftists) seems to debunk the theory of carlton43 that it was merely a family holiday to Sri Lanka and everything’s hunny dory really.

[Adam in Stroud]

There's no point in expecting us to be disinterested on this.

There could be a recall petition which would lead to a by-election in a fairly marginal seat, for a party whose MPs are propping up a minority government. It's basically free heroin for us addicts.

[iain]

Jul 24, 2018 22:30:07 GMT Adam in Stroud said:

There's no point in expecting us to be disinterested on this.

There could be a recall petition which would lead to a by-election in a fairly marginal seat, for a party whose MPs are propping up a minority government. It's basically free heroin for us addicts.

It’s not really a marginal seat