Owen Calls for an End to Double-Jobbing
14 December 2009
The Conservatives have introduced amendments to the Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill, introduced by Shadow Northern Ireland Minister Lord Glentoran, which will prevent an MLA being paid, receiving allowances and a pension if he or she is also an MP or MEP. They will also remove the Assembly’s right to make decisions on MLAs’ salaries, allowances and pensions. Commenting, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson, said: “The Conservatives were the first party in Northern Ireland to call for an end to double-jobbing in Northern Ireland. Voters want full-time MLAs, MPs and MEPs and rightly believe they currently get a raw deal when some of their elected politicians split their time between Stormont and Westminster. “We have introduced amendments to legislation that are aimed at ending double-jobbing by Northern Ireland politicians at Stormont and Westminster. They are also intended to ensure that all decisions on MLAs’ salaries, allowances and pensions are made by a third party, as at Westminster. We believe the current situation is wrong and should end.”
