Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Ongoing expenses row cited as one reason for DUP vote slump
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Expenses controversies are being cited as one of the factors behind the slump in the DUP vote.
The election campaign coincided with the storm at Westminster over MP expenses.
The DUP, the largest Northern Irish party in the House of Commons, has also faced criticism over family “dynasties” in politics.
The feedback from different parties was that expenses were being raised on the doorsteps with canvassers.
It also may have contributed to general disillusionment and the sharp decease in turn out — down almost 9% since the last Euro election to 42.81%.
In Northern Irish politics, there have been rumbling expenses rows since early 2008.
They have for the most part reflected controversies in the House of Commons.
Last year, the main issues here included the employment of relatives by MPs and MLAs.
The subject of double jobbing came to the fore in April this year, after new Westminster expenses figures were published.
The Belfast Telegraph revealed that the 16 Northern Ireland MPs who are also MLAs received £4.7 million between them in pay and allowances in a single year.
The 16 politicians are from the DUP, Sinn Fein and SDLP.
By this stage, something of a media feeding frenzy was developing in London on the expenses issues.
Among the politicians to come under its focus were DUP couple Peter and Iris Robinson.
Mr Robinson hit out angrily at tabloid references to the “Swish Family Robinson”, blaming the coverage on Conservative “dirty tricks”.
Then came the leaked details about MP second home and London living expenses.
Among the many cases reported in the Daily Telegraph was the £30,000 in food expenses claimed by the Robinsons between 2004 and 2008.
Mr Robinson commented at that time: “I think if MPs slept on a park bench and starved themselves that would still be too much for some people.”
His party has proposed detailed reforms to the MP allowances system.
Meanwhile, an Assembly report in May raised questions over the level of rent expenses claimed for a DUP advice centre in Ballymena.
No rules were found to have been broken, but the report noted that the rent was significantly above the market rate.
This report has helped prompt a review of the current rules for MLA office expenses.
- Text Size
a no brainer the gravey trainers suffer,,,here we have people who think it is their god given right to live on their expenses and save their wages ,,mrs dodds is a poor choice to represent any party ,,the womans sole battle cry is stop sinn fein topping the poll ,,has anyone reminded her that she shares government with sinn fein ,,the dup are going the same road as fianna faill in the south ,,a friend of a friend or a family member ,,as i have often said greed is cross community
Posted by baily | 09.06.09, 23:30 GMT
That and the fact that the DUP fielded a lacklustre candidate, an individual lacking charisma and charm...and even though her principal opponent was similarly afflicted, he at least can be credited as having done a good job and standing by pre-election pledges! Perhaps the newly elected MEP can join a group in Brussels...am sure the BNP is looking for allies!
Posted by Malachy Mulligan | 09.06.09, 18:47 GMT
can only fear for the long term prospects of political progress with such small minded backward thinking peoples in power.
Have they not learned anything during the past 40 years?
Refusing to shake a victor's hand says more about the loser and the type of person they are i.e. not fit to stand for, let alone hold high office.
Diane, desist from Allisters antics. Be your own woman.
Posted by Henry Campbell | 09.06.09, 16:23 GMT
Well said Andrew. Diane Dodds was without doubt the most inept candidate to stand for election here, and all factors considered, that is quite an accolade.
Posted by terry | 09.06.09, 15:20 GMT
The main reason that DUP did badly was Mrs Dodds. Her performances on tv debates were agonisingly bad and her only campaign aim seemed to be to stop the republicans topping the poll. Does she actually know what politics is about? Perhaps if someone in her party had taken her aside she may have come up with a few policies. Her behaviour yesterday in refusing to shake the victor's hand shows that she is not fit to represent NI in europe.
Posted by Andrew | 09.06.09, 13:23 GMT