Ian Paisley narrowly avoids by-election after recall petition fails to win enough support
2 min read
Ian Paisley has narrowly avoided a by-election after a petition of voters in his constituency which could have seen him sacked as an MP failed to find enough support.
The DUP MP - currently suspended from the Commons for failing to declare two holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government - will hold onto the North Antrim seat he has held since 2010.
Under parliamentary rules, 10% of voters in a constituency must back a recall petition in order to trigger a by-election.
But it was announced in the early hours of this morning that 7,099 of North Antrim voters had supported the move, just 444 votes short of the 7,543 required.
Mr Paisley was the first MP in UK parliamentary history to have the recall petition used against him after he was suspended from the Commons for 30 days for failing to declare the luxury family holidays.
The trips included seven helicopter flights and hospitality for the MP's family worth tens of thousands of pounds.
He later lobbied then-Prime Minister David Cameron against supporting a UN resolution on human rights abuses in Sri Lanka - again without disclosing the trips.
Mr Paisley had previously vowed to fight a by-election in the Northern Irish seat, blasting “opportunists” for trying to take him down, saying: “I have no intention of going quietly into the night.”
But speaking after the result was announced last night, Mr Paisley said: “In July I apologised for a mistake made almost six years ago. The electorate was asked to pass judgement – 90.6% have accepted my apology.
“The electorate has clearly spoken."
He added: "I would like to thank my true friends, family, the electorate who have stood by me with unwavering support. Hallelujah.”
Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann hit back at Mr Paisley’s comments saying that he should “demonstrate some humility”.
He added: “I would caution Ian Paisley not to see this as some sort of victory or endorsement of his actions in acting as a paid advocate for a foreign government and bringing North Antrim and the House of Commons into disrepute.”
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