“I’ve already, I think yesterday, declared my intention to resign that post”
According to the BBC report
Some “double-jobbing” DUP MPs will not stand as candidates at the next assembly election, party leader Peter Robinson has said. Mr Robinson said some assembly members would also give up their council posts, with more to follow later.
Of course, when the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, MP, MLA, Cllr, became Northern Ireland Environment Minister, he told the BBC’s Jim Fitzpatrick, 10th June 2008, that,
“..there probably is a conflict of interest there and I’ve already, I think yesterday, declared my intention to resign that post [as a Belfast City Councillor] at the earliest possible opportunity.”
But by March this year, Sammy Wilson had changed his mind.
Speaking from Westminster the East Antrim MP said his planned change to the regulations would focus the minds of his Assembly colleagues who sit on councils.“Having a council seat in your own constituency is clearly very useful. However it would then be up to MLAs to decide if they want to do this for just a nominal amount of money “.
Mr Wilson who divides his time between Westminster, East Antrim, and Belfast believes he is able to carry out all his duties effectively.
Arlene Foster MLA his predecessor as Environment Minister resigned her council seat when she took the Environment brief. However he says he is quite happy that there is no clash of interest in being a councillor and Minister.
A Belfast city councillor since 1981 he says he has no plans to resign his council seat.
This is a nice way for Robinson to put a smokescreen around Sammy Wilson’s imminent sacking as a result of being a continuous embarassment to the DUP
“Some “double-jobbing” DUP MPs will not stand as candidates”
Will the choice be made by the DJs or by DUP HQ?
“he is able to carry out all his duties effectively.”
The Planning Service is responsible for conservation areas such as the one in Bushmills.
Perhaps Sammy will be able to explain why boarded-up buildings are tolerated in this gateway to a World Heritage site, the Giants Causeway, when he comes to the town on June 12.
“Having a council seat in your own constituency is clearly very useful.”
What about having a Council seat in an entirely different constituency, Sammy?
Sammy’s website is a bit out-of-date. Must be all that multi-tasking:
Mr Wilson is the DUP spokesperson for Education and Policing, and has special political interest in socio-economic issues.
if members of the shadow cabinet can have two, there four or more jobs then being an MLA/MP or MLA/MP/Councillor should be wee buns
You lot haven’t heard, have you? Perhaps you’ll have it tomorrow….
Nevin, because the Planning Service and NIEA have no powers to compel a landowner to repair a building unless it’s listed.
Will be interesting to see which MPs opt not to run in 2 years time. I would suggest Strangford, Lagan Valley and North Antrim. Reason: If the size of Assembly is reduced to 72, which the DUP suggests, then the existing MLA’s would be likely to still keep their jobs, based on the breakdown of the votes in the last election i.e In Strangford, it would have been likely that a relatively even split of Iris Robinson’s vote would have carried the other three candidates over or close to the line in 2007.
With regard to the Council posts, those who step down are likely to receive the proposed severance payment under RPA, which, according to the proposals currently out for consultation by the DOE suggests £1,000 per year served, if more than one term. Funny, I thought severance as a politician was when the electorate decided it was your time to go, obviously not!!
It’s solely up to the electorate to judge whether the representative they wish to choose is capable of doing the job or not. It’s frankly nobody else’s business.