Peter Robinson - Probe Findings

Yesterday it was announced that the Northern Irish First Minister was returning to duty (was he actually away)following the completion of the probe into his finances. The Electoral Commission's findings have been published. Here is what was found out against what Peter has claimed:

Peter Robinson source Newsletter June 2009

I give my assembly salary to the party.

Actual quote:

"Every one of our councillors, every one of our Assembly members, every one of our post holders, every one of our ministers, pays into the party in accordance with what they receive for those positions [second jobs etc].

"That means that the First Minister gives up completely his Assembly salary. As MPs, we only get a third from our second salary, but that goes over to the party.

"That would be the position for anyone who was double-jobbing in the period from the next election.

"Each MP will want to talk to their own constituency association before they make any public announcement about their intentions and some of them have started that process already."

Facts

As an MP and MLA Robinson's assembly salary is reduced to a third about £15,000. The commission found no donation exceeding £5,000. At the time £5,000 was the limit over which declarations had to be made. This is now £7,500!!!

So where is the other £10,000+? How much has he really given to the party?

Last Long Week for Iris in Politics?

News is coming from Northern Ireland that Iris Robinson will be stepping down as MP and MLA within the week.

The effect at this time means that it is so close to the possible dissolution that no formal writ would be moved in time [pdf link] to replace her at Westminster. The convention under the STV elections for the Northern Irish Assembly currently mean that the sitting party will appoint a replacement if they lose a MLA.

A DUP spokesperson has said they will move quickly to replace Mrs Robinson in her Strangford Assembly seat. Adding:

"We wanted to show people we were acting decisively. There was no question about it, she had to go and go now.

"There was absolutely no sympathy for the position she found herself in."

Shaun Woodward the Northern Irish Secretary won't be winning any plain English awards for his intervention into the debate on the First Minister's tenuous position. He said earlier today:

"It is a responsibility on everyone in the assembly to understand that the consequences of allowing the political process to slide would undoubtedly have an impact on the broader canvas.

"And that if anybody were to be selfish enough to think this is a moment when that can be allowed to be put in the deep freeze, even some may wish to unpick, they would be extremely irresponsible, foolish and would be playing very, very dangerous games."

He also echoed calls from East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell who said that Peter Robinson should be given to week to clear his name. Saying:

"I think Peter Robinson has the confidence of his party - that is the position and has been the position.

"But he himself has said that he wants to put his own credibility on the line in the manner in which he has done by setting up this investigation which in some respects is a very brave thing to do.

"Peter himself has asked for a week to resolve those issues, respond to them and refute them.

"I think we should allow him that week and hopefully we then move on in a week's time."

So Iris is to find her retirement from political life coming sooner than she wanted.

But another interesting development is that donations from Peter Robinson's First Ministerial salary to the DUP have not been reported to the Electoral Commission. The Commission has announced they there are looking into the DUP's donations after the First Minister had been been quoted in the Newsletter in June 2009 as saying he was doing so.

The other day Peter Robinson said that there no financial impropriety on his part. Therefore either his party are hiding his contributions, or his lied about giving then to the party, no doubt the Electoral Commission will get to the bottom of yet another issue with donations and the Robinsons.

Dear Mr Robinson

I have just tried to pass comment on Nick Robinson's latest blog entry but have been told I'm not allowed to post comments. Is this the same BBC that rang me on the very morning that Charles Kennedy resigned looking for a supportive comment? Is this the same BBC that I have spoken in support of in the press and in conference debates?

Obviously I want to know why the BBC or possibly Nick Robinson is not prepared to let my comments be posted to this part of their operation. I can happily post elsewhere and often do.

I have just sent the following email of complaint to the BBC.

I have just attempted to post a comment on Nick Robinson's blog on the BBC news site. I was attempting to point out to other readers and Nick himself that his throw away linking the words Michael Brown, Lib Dem donataion and police investigation could be misconstrued in light of the general flow of the blog entry.

As a Liberal Democrat candidate from May 2005 and a fellow blogger of Mr Robinson I find it very disconcerting that I got a message that I was not allowed to post comments to Mr Robinson's blog.

I would like to know why I have been denied the access to pass comment to and correct Mr Robinson which other people clearly have. Especially in light of my personal knowledge of the field in which Mr Robinson is your editor.

Now previously I have posted to Mr Robinson's blog with a link to my blog. I wonder if Mr Robinson is becoming vary of all bloggers following his incendiary remarks about bloggers last week. Nick if you wish to comment you can do so freely on this site.

UPDATE: Word is coming through from a few friends and fellow Liberal Democrats that they are experiencing similar difficulties in countering some of the insinuation on that blog entry by Mr Robinson. Is this censorship of a particular political view point by the political editor of the BBC?

The Unusual Suspects

What the cops never figured out, and what I know now, was that these men would never break, never lie down, never bend over for anybody. Anybody.

quote from Verbal in the Usual Suspects (1995)

Well Scotland Yard are widening their circle of questioning regarding the cash for peerages investication. Soon they will be calling on Number 10 to ask the Prime Minster, aka Anthony Charles Lynton Blair aka Friend of George, a few questions. It is the first time a serving Prime Minister will be interviewed by police in a corruption case. Tony is probably hoping the men in blue don't follow the same way of taking him in for question as Lord Levy aka Lord Cashpoint, Labour's chief fundraiser earlier this week.

Other key figures in the Labour party are also facing questioning as the net broadens in this investigation. So far 48 people have been questioned 13 under caution but John Yates, an assistant deputy commissioner at Scotland Yard has said that so far the majority of these have been Conservatives.

It looks like we know what stories are going to occupy the press while Parliament is in recess this summer.