Democratic Unionist MP says electorate accepts his apology for lobbying scandal as petition falls just short of 10% threshold

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Ian Paisley has thanked the voters of North Antrim for their “unwavering support” after Westminster’s first ever recall petition fell short of the threshold required to unseat him.

The MP hailed his family and “true friends” for sticking by him after he narrowly avoided a byelection.

Paisley would have been ousted as an MP if 10% of the electorate in his North Antrim constituency – or 7,543 voters – signed the petition. In the event 7,099 people signed it (9.4%).

The petition device, created following the Westminster expenses scandal, was initiated after Paisley was banned from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days for failing to declare two 2013 family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

A parliamentary watchdog found in July that a year after the luxury holidays, Paisley lobbied then prime minister David Cameron not to support a UN inquiry into alleged Sri Lankan human rights abuses.

In a statement to the Press Association, Paisley said the “electorate had spoken”.

“The electorate was asked to pass judgment. 90.6% have accepted my apology,” he said. “I would like to thank my true friends, family, the electorate who have stood by me with unwavering support. Hallelujah.”

The long-standing Democratic Unionist, whose late father the Reverend Ian Paisley founded the party, is suspended from the DUP pending its own internal investigation into his conduct.

Three centres have been open in North Antrim for the past six weeks to give voters the opportunity to sign the petition. Constituents were also able to put their name to the petition via post.

Virginia McVea, Northern Ireland’s chief electoral officer, announced the outcome in Belfast early on Thursday morning after a count that commenced at midnight. “The petition has not been successful,” she said.

McVea rejected criticism that has been levelled at her by Sinn Fein for opening only three centres where people could sign the petition, when the maximum permitted was 10.

She said there had been “unprecedented” access afforded, with the longest ever electoral period in the region and voters able to access postal ballots on demand.

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said it was clear there was no public appetite for a byelection. “I respect that outcome,” he said.

“However 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.

“Rather I would urge him to use the time that he has been suspended from Parliament and the DUP, to reflect on the severity of what he has done and the embarrassment he has brought on Northern Ireland. He should demonstrate some humility.”

Paisley’s Commons ban has denied Theresa May one of her 10 DUP MP confidence and supply allies during a period that could witness several crucial Brexit votes.

An investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found the cost of the hospitality afforded Paisley and his family may have been “significantly more” than his £50,000 estimate.

It found the Sri Lankan holidays included business-class air travel, accommodation at first-class hotels, helicopter trips and visits to tourist attractions for the North Antrim MP and his wider family.

The trips also included meeting with Sri Lankan governmental figures.

Paisley’s threshold for registering such hospitality in 2013 was around £660.