Following up on Belfast Gonzos post about the performance of those public representatives who serve both as MPs and MLA ministers, for those who dont know, two wonderful websites will be a revelation TheyWorkforYou.com and The Public Whip. Together they provide an ongoing record of each reps voting record, speeches and answers to questions at Westminster and speeches etc in the Assembly. I offer two samples.
Peter Robinson voted in 40.9% of Commons divisions since the General Election of 2005. Mark Durkan voted in 25.5% of divisions.
And you can browse to your hearts content in the Robinson a and Durkan record of speeches etc in both Stormont and Westminster. You are even supplied with the essential performance details and how to contact your favourite or least favourite politician, eg Robinson or Durkan.
For Robinson, the present Executive hasnt been up and running long enough, and Durkans active term as DFM didnt clash with his MPs service, so it isnt possible yet to work out if the duties of the MP might be said to clash with those of the same person as a Stormont minister. I suspect the Westminster voting record for DUP ministers as reported in the Irish News hasn’t so far been much different from what it was before they became ministers. NI MPs have never played a full part in the main party battle between Labour and Conservative, although my impression is that attendance at Commons debates is down.
But keep monitoring these two great sites, and by the end of the year youll have a good idea if DUP ministers are falling down on the job as MPs.
Former BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London
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