Statement by TUV vice-chair Keith Harbinson:

"In the week that the Kelly Report rightly blasts double-jobbing MPs, we had a classic illustration yesterday at Stormont of the damage being done to the elected strength of Unionism by the physical incapacity of one person to be in two places at the one time.

"In an important vote against a nationalist backed demand for progress on a separate and obnoxious Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, Unionism was defeated by 46 votes to 39 because of the absence from Stormont of the DUP’s 9 MPs.

"Northern Ireland and Unionism in particular is being short-changed by its double and triple jobbing MPs. Time and time again we are losing out because MPs insist on being MLAs, and some Ministers as well, meaning none of their jobs are being done adequately.

"To ease the pressure on it in the European election the DUP promised to end double and triple jobbing, but now they have reneged on that promise and intend to present their outgoing slate of double jobbers for re-election to Westminster. This is a slight and insult to the right of electors to have full-time parliamentarians."