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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| DUP will shed most executive MPs | DUP will shed most executive MPs |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| DUP leader Peter Robinson plans to reshuffle his assembly team - with all but one of his MPs possibly leaving the Northern Ireland Executive. | DUP leader Peter Robinson plans to reshuffle his assembly team - with all but one of his MPs possibly leaving the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| Mr Robinson was speaking in Bangor, where he addressed a range of issues including expenses and double jobbing. | Mr Robinson was speaking in Bangor, where he addressed a range of issues including expenses and double jobbing. |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan has said he would not be standing as an MLA and an MP in the next election. | |
| BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said it was not yet clear what Sinn Fein would do about double jobbing. | |
| Mr Durkan said "ministers shouldn't be MPs as well". | |
| "If I stand in the next Westminster election, I will be standing on the basis I am not a continuing MLA, that's what our party position would be." | |
| Mr Robinson has promised a reshuffle before the summer recess. | |
| While not naming names he said of the seven other MPs currently committee chairs or ministers at the assembly, only one would remain. | While not naming names he said of the seven other MPs currently committee chairs or ministers at the assembly, only one would remain. |
| That could mean MPs Iris Robinson, William McCrea and David Simpson all leaving their posts as committee chairman. | That could mean MPs Iris Robinson, William McCrea and David Simpson all leaving their posts as committee chairman. |
| MPs Nigel Dodds, Sammy Wilson, Gregory Campbell and Jeffrey Donaldson are in the frame to leave the assembly. | MPs Nigel Dodds, Sammy Wilson, Gregory Campbell and Jeffrey Donaldson are in the frame to leave the assembly. |
| Mr Robinson said new appointees would be in place by the autumn. | Mr Robinson said new appointees would be in place by the autumn. |
| The DUP leader said the time was also coming, due to political stability when MPs could no longer justify serving in the assembly also. | The DUP leader said the time was also coming, due to political stability when MPs could no longer justify serving in the assembly also. |
| 'Robust reform' | |
| He said that it was not for him to decide "whether colleagues choose Westminster or the assembly". | He said that it was not for him to decide "whether colleagues choose Westminster or the assembly". |
| "We will each announce our own decisions in the coming months after we consult with our constituency associations," he said. | "We will each announce our own decisions in the coming months after we consult with our constituency associations," he said. |
| Mr Robinson said all MPs at Westminster must accept blame for allowing the expenses system to develop the way it did and that he looked forward to robust reform. | Mr Robinson said all MPs at Westminster must accept blame for allowing the expenses system to develop the way it did and that he looked forward to robust reform. |
| He urged all party leaders to agree reform of Assembly expenses before there is a "proverbial train wreck". | He urged all party leaders to agree reform of Assembly expenses before there is a "proverbial train wreck". |
| "Politicians by nature don't find it easy to accept blame," he said. | "Politicians by nature don't find it easy to accept blame," he said. |
| "It's easy to say 'blame the government because they have responsibility to lead' or 'blame the two big parties because only they have the numbers to make changes' or 'blame the Speaker because he is in a pivotal position'. | "It's easy to say 'blame the government because they have responsibility to lead' or 'blame the two big parties because only they have the numbers to make changes' or 'blame the Speaker because he is in a pivotal position'. |
| "But let me be clear, every party and every MP allowed the system to continue and all of us are to blame." | "But let me be clear, every party and every MP allowed the system to continue and all of us are to blame." |
| He said the assembly should also have an independent body to take responsibility for all salary and expenses. | He said the assembly should also have an independent body to take responsibility for all salary and expenses. |
| "I have for years argued that politicians should not be involved in setting or administering their own pay and expenses," he said. | "I have for years argued that politicians should not be involved in setting or administering their own pay and expenses," he said. |