“any of our Assembly Members elected to Westminster will give up their Assembly seats”

As Mark Devenport noted earlier, launching the DUP election slogan – “Let’s keep Northern Ireland moving forward” – in Belfast today, Peter Robinson declared

“Our party executive last night approved an officer recommendation that will mean any of our Assembly Members elected to Westminster will give up their Assembly seats. However the party believe that it is important, especially at this time, with the prospect of a hung Parliament that the party leader should remain at Westminster.

“While personally I made no secret of the fact that I would have been content to concentrate on the Assembly I understand the access that comes with being a Member of Parliament is important for the leader of unionism, whoever that is. In addition all our MPs and Ministers will stand down from local government.”

Ministers, but not all MLAs. And the next leader of the DUP will be.. An MP? Or an MLA? But has anyone told the NI Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, MP, MLA, Cllr?

“I have made it clear that I believe the jobs that I have at Westminster and the Assembly are complimentary. I don’t believe it is impossible to do both. “Over the last number of years, I have proven that it is possible to serve at Westminster effectively and serve in the Assembly. Therefore I don’t think there is any choice needed.”

Pete Baker