The Democratic Unionist Party Leader Peter Robinson has announced that any DUP assembly member, elected to House of Commons in the upcoming General Election, will give up the Stormont seat, with the exception of himself. Mr. Robinson stated that it was important for the party leader to maintain "the access that comes with being an MP".

The First Minister also indicated that DUP MP's and ministers would step down from local councils positions although stated no timeframe.

Editorial

There clearly is an exception to every rule for the DUP's new policy will apply to everyone bar its leader, rightly or wrongly. It would appear that just as the DUP is attempting to off-set it Double Jobbing reputation, other parties who criticised their behaviour are putting forward candidates which would leave them in the same double jobbing position, if elected.

Is the DUP's new policy more a question of spin? For with Dawn Purvis's bill going through the local assembly and Paul Goggin's bill going through the Westminster parliament, what's the point in their new policy. If the bills are successful it is our understanding that MLA's won't be able to sit as local councillors and MP's wishing to sit as MLA's will only be able to claim one salary.

In fact, it may be more a question of democracy denied if their policy is enacted. For if MLA's stand down upon becoming Members of Parliament, it is our understanding that they will be replaced with candidates the electorate did not vote for, a process recently demonstrated when Iris Robinson resigned her MLA seat.

It would appear that in the run up to one of Northern Ireland's most critical elections, all is not well with the folks on the hill.

Last Updated: 20th March 2010