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Tories call for cut to double-jobbers pay

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Stormont
The Conservatives have proposed legislative changes which would see payments cut to Northern Ireland's double-jobbing politicians.

The Tories tabled amendments to a bill before Westminster that if passed would mean representatives could not receive a salary from Stormont if they were also an MP or MEP.

Potential changes also remove the Assembly's right to make decisions on MLAs salaries, allowances and pensions.

Several of the most senior politicians are MPs, Assembly members and local councillors.

Shadow Northern Ireland spokesman 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 believe the current situation is wrong and should end."

The changes are intended to ensure all decisions on salaries, allowances and pensions are made by a third party, as in Westminster.

If the amendment is passed it would not ban double jobbing, just payments for it.

Sir Christopher Kelly called for an end to double jobbing by 2011 in his high-profile report on Standards in Public Life.

However the DUP, who have nine MPs that also sit at Stormont, have said they will phase it out by 2015.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said their proposals would produce a similar outcome.

"We are saying we need to end it and are going to end it after the next parliamentary term, it (the Conservative Party plan) is more elaborate and convoluted," he said.

"We are saying they should no longer seek a mandate, if you are not there you won't require payment."

The Conservatives have formed an electoral alliance with the Ulster Unionists.

They have said a candidate would stand on a joint ticket in each of the 18 Westminster constituencies despite DUP pressure for an agreed unionist candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and South Belfast.

© Press Association

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At 19:20 on 14 December 2009, norman wrote:
i fully support the tories on double jobing you can only do one job properly it is greed for money that makes people do more than one job and voters can end it by not voting for the same person that stands at each election get rid of these double jobers
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