DUP veto on double jobbing bill
The DUP has tabled a petition of concern to try and block a private member’s bill to ban double jobbing from becoming law.
Independent East Belfast unionist MLA Dawn Purvis authored the bill to stop politicians from holding Assembly and council seats at the same time.
She claims the move could create new opportunities for women and young people to get involved in the political process, and “prevent dynasty building”.
Ms Purvis described the DUP’s petition of concern as an “underhanded” move.
“This is an outrageous attempt to block this legislation and prevent this important reform from being implemented. It also sets an extremely dangerous precedent. The DUP is using this procedure -which should be used with careful consideration – to support their own interests as a political party.”
Reacting to Ms Purvis’s comments, DUP MLA Peter Weir said no other party has done as much as the DUP to end the dual mandate in recent months.
He said the DUP is proposing to phase dual mandates out by 2015 whilst ending the practice of dual mandate Councillors being paid a local Government salary.
“For Ms Purvis to use the ‘anti-democratic’ argument is flagrant hypocrisy,” he said.
“Most recently Ms Purvis used a Petition of Concern to stop the abolition of the Civic Forum. A Petition of Concern is not anti-democratic, it’s the exact opposite. It exists as a democratic safeguard.”
“Whilst Ms Purvis accuses the DUP of power building she should explain to the electorate why she is opposing the DUP’s policy of reducing the number of MLAs and Ministers.”
The final vote on the bill will now take place in the New Year.
