Double jobbing equates to "bargain basement"

Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader, Danny Kennedy MLA, has said that double jobbing equates to "bargain-basement" MPs and MLAs - "the people of Northern Ireland deserve better".

"It was a huge mistake for the DUP and Alliance to support the continuation of double-jobbing and to water down the recommendation of the Kelly report. This, in turn, has further undermined the already shaky public reputation of the Assembly.

"Sir Christopher Kelly's recent report on parliamentary standards clearly stated that double-jobbing should be brought to an end by May 2011. The DUP - shamefully supported by Alliance - decided to oppose this in the Assembly debate.

"Back in May - as the European elections approached - the DUP leader described double-jobbbing as a 'temporary expedient' that he was going to end. Now the DUP want to cling on to double-jobbing until 2015. Do they really believe that voters don't see through their attempt to present their defence of double-jobbing as being about saving public money? The DUP double-jobbers are bringing shame to Northern Ireland. Nowhere else in the UK would a political party act with such brazen selfishness.

"That said, the DUP's efforts to stave off the inevitable will do no good. David Cameron - who we hope will be leading a new Westminster Government next year - has been unequivocal in his position on this issue. Should the Northern Ireland parties fail to end this shameful practice by 2011, a future Conservative government will introduce legislation to ensure that MPs are not double-jobbers.

"Representing the people of Northern Ireland in Westminster or at Stormont is not a part-time job. The people of Northern Ireland deserve the same level of representation as our fellow citizens in the rest of the UK - that means full-time representatives in Stormont or Westminster, not double-jobbers who believe they can treat Stormont and Westminster with contempt. I can think of few things less British than abusing parliamentary democracy in this way."

Turning to the issue of outside earnings, for those Members who farm or own businesses, Mr Kennedy said that the Assembly benefits from "the wealth of experience that people with outside influences bring. Otherwise, we would be left with professional politicians in their little suits".

"In fact, the Kelly Report explicitly states that 'MPs should be free to undertake some paid activity outside the House of Commons, provided it is kept within reasonable limits and there is transparency about the nature of the activity and the amount of time spent on it'. This could not be clearer."

ENDS…

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:

The DUP's stance on double-jobbing is fundamentally un-British. There are 17 double-jobbing MPs in the UK - 16 are in Northern Ireland, 14 of them being DUP and Sinn Fein. The only other double-jobbing MP in the entire UK is Scottish Nationalist Alex Salmond and even he is stepping down at the next Westminster election.