The Westminster election will be a much needed opportunity to pass your verdict on the sleaze and corruption which has blighted the outgoing parliament. Sadly, some Northern Ireland MPs, with their family dynasties, double and triple jobbing and lavish claims, played their part in bringing politics into disrepute.

 

Whether it was Sinn Fein’s scandalous £500,000 claim for rent for apartments for their absentee MPs, or Jeffrey Donaldson claiming for hotel movies, or Iris Robinson thinking taxpayers’ money should be spent on buying her an expensive Mont Blanc pen or £1600 bed, or William McCrea’s lavish walnut desk, or Dr Paisley claiming £23,200 in London food allowance (1/4/04-31/3/09), even when parliament was not sitting, or Mr and Mrs Robinson claiming £42,507.88 for food(1/4/04-31/12/08), they have all contributed to the rightful public resentment and anger about misuse of taxpayers’ hard earned cash.

 

Being an MP is a full-time job and is paid as such. Yet in Northern Ireland voters have been short-changed by part-time MPs clinging to the salaries and positions of other conflicting public offices. Many are not only double jobbers, but triple jobbers and more. Every DUP MP double jobbed in the Assembly and most of them at various times were also Ministers.

 

Representing Northern Ireland in Westminster is not a one day a week job to be fitted in when other duties permit, rather it is full-time responsibility.

 

In the last parliament neglect and double jobbing saw poor performance. Even key votes of national importance were missed. For example, and quite shockingly, Ian Paisley, Iris Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson were absent when the crucial vote demanding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was taken. And, when it came to the vital abortion votes Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson were not in the lobbies to vote to reduce the legal limit from 24 weeks!

 

It’s time to give the double and triple jobbers your answer: out with the part-timers on full-time pay. If they haven’t thought you worthy of full-time representation in Parliament, then they are not worthy of your vote.

 

TUV is not a perfect party, but remember that when the independent Taxpayers Alliance evaluated the voting record and actions of every UK MEP (2004-09) they found that TUV Leader Jim Allister emerged as the top Euro MP from across the whole of the UK when it came to hard work and transparency http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/politics/best-and-worst-meps-revealed-$1300787.htm . This is the standard set by TUV and required of anyone elected to Parliament.

 

If you would like to help in the upcoming Westminster Campaign, then register here or phone 028 90 655011.