“there is therefore no good reason why its Members should not take their seats at Westminster”

As the BBC reports, the government has stated that “Over the coming months Ministers will be talking to all Northern Ireland parties to address how to take the issue forward in light of the views and clear issues of principle we discussed today.”  The issue being the payment of allowances expenses to MPs who do not take their seats.  As the Deputy Leader of the House, Liberal Democrat MP, David Heath, told MPs yesterday The Committee on Standards in Public Life recognised when …

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“I think that at the moment we let them off the hook…”

The BBC notes the Prime Minister’s comments during Question Time in the Commons on the issue of Sinn Féin MPs’ expenses – which we have previously been told is a matter for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). The comments themselves leave few hostages to fortune.  From Hansard [scroll down] Q11. [3692] Dr William McCrea (South Antrim) (DUP): Yesterday, we were told that resolute action was necessary to deal decisively with our country’s debt. Does the Prime Minister believe that …

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