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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Expenses exemption is 'sop to SF' | Expenses exemption is 'sop to SF' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A potential exemption for NI MPs from proposed changes to expenses has been branded a "sop to Sinn Fein". | A potential exemption for NI MPs from proposed changes to expenses has been branded a "sop to Sinn Fein". |
| Gordon Brown said the second homes allowance should be replaced with flat-rate daily expenses based on Commons attendance. | Gordon Brown said the second homes allowance should be replaced with flat-rate daily expenses based on Commons attendance. |
| But he is to ask an ethics committee to look at the circumstances in NI before applying the change. | But he is to ask an ethics committee to look at the circumstances in NI before applying the change. |
| That could mean Sinn Fein's MPs get an allowance despite refusing to take their Commons seats. | That could mean Sinn Fein's MPs get an allowance despite refusing to take their Commons seats. |
| Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said this was nothing less than a "blatant and hugely expensive sop to Sinn Fein's absentee MPs". | Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said this was nothing less than a "blatant and hugely expensive sop to Sinn Fein's absentee MPs". |
| He continued: "Whereas MPs in the rest of the United Kingdom will receive an attendance allowance linked to actually turning up in Parliament to do their work as MPs, Gordon Brown has excluded Northern Ireland MPs from this. | He continued: "Whereas MPs in the rest of the United Kingdom will receive an attendance allowance linked to actually turning up in Parliament to do their work as MPs, Gordon Brown has excluded Northern Ireland MPs from this. |
| I hope that the Committee on Standards in Public Life will agree with the then Speaker Boothroyd who said that the House of Commons should not permit 'associate membership' Owen Paterson | I hope that the Committee on Standards in Public Life will agree with the then Speaker Boothroyd who said that the House of Commons should not permit 'associate membership' Owen Paterson |
| "Whether they turn up or not, Northern Ireland MPs will be able to continue to claim tax-payers' money for keeping a home in London. | "Whether they turn up or not, Northern Ireland MPs will be able to continue to claim tax-payers' money for keeping a home in London. |
| "In other words, the tax-payer will continue to fund London homes for Sinn Fein MPs who refuse to do their work in Parliament." | "In other words, the tax-payer will continue to fund London homes for Sinn Fein MPs who refuse to do their work in Parliament." |
| Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson added: "I hope that the Committee on Standards in Public Life will agree with the then Speaker Boothroyd who said that the House of Commons should not permit 'associate membership'. | Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson added: "I hope that the Committee on Standards in Public Life will agree with the then Speaker Boothroyd who said that the House of Commons should not permit 'associate membership'. |
| "All elected MPs should attend under the same conditions." | "All elected MPs should attend under the same conditions." |
| 'Democratic' | 'Democratic' |
| Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said his party would abide by whatever new rules were introduced. | Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said his party would abide by whatever new rules were introduced. |
| However, the Newry & Armagh representative and Stormont minister added: "We are determined that none of the democratic entitlements of our electorate are in any way diminished. | However, the Newry & Armagh representative and Stormont minister added: "We are determined that none of the democratic entitlements of our electorate are in any way diminished. |
| "It seems to me the people who will be worried by these measures are not those of us who have abided by the rules but rather those MPs and politicians who are grossing hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money in salaries, allowances and, equally importantly, through the direct employment of relatives or the payment of mortgages on second homes." | "It seems to me the people who will be worried by these measures are not those of us who have abided by the rules but rather those MPs and politicians who are grossing hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers money in salaries, allowances and, equally importantly, through the direct employment of relatives or the payment of mortgages on second homes." |
| DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the party welcomed the government's plans to reform the living allowance. | |
| "However, we would oppose any plans by the government to treat Northern Ireland MPs differently from other MPs in the UK and have tabled a motion drawing attention to this," he said. | |
| "The 18 Northern Ireland representatives should be subject to the same rules and regulations as other MPs who live outside of London. | |
| "It would be outrageous to have a situation where MPs who don't attend Westminster were receiving the same payments for not attending as those representatives who do." |