Beggs thanks supporters, after finishing runner up in East Antrim contest

Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist Party candidate in the Westminster General Election has thanked his supporters, after finishing runner up in the East Antrim contest.

Roy Beggs MLA said:

 

“I wish to thank the 6,308 people who voted for me in the General Election.  We closed the gap by around 1,000 votes, but clearly Sammy Wilson still has a sizable majority and I congratulate him on his victory. 

 

“There is no doubt he is a popular and widely recognisable character who commands support outside his party affiliation.  However, Sammy now has a choice to make about where he is going to represent East Antrim - Stormont or Westminster.  He has not fulfilled his previous manifesto commitment to stop double jobbing, and tried to avoid the question in this campaign.   This cannot continue, because from next year, by law, it will not be permissible to continue to be an MP at Westminster, and an MLA at Stormont at the same time.

 

“The two newly elected Ulster Unionist Party MPs Tom Elliot and Danny Kinahan will be stepping down from Stormont as soon as possible, to be dedicated, fulltime MPs for their constituents at Westminster.  I am absolutely delighted at their success and the fact that the Ulster Unionist Party is on the up, and back on the green benches of the House of Commons.”

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Beggs questions Wilson’s despicable actions related to Red Sky

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs re-iterated his accusation that Sammy Wilson MLA is acting in the narrow DUP interest rather than the public’s interest in terms of his actions related to the investigation into the BBC Spotlight Red Sky programme.

 

Roy Beggs said:

“The latest comments by Sammy Wilson MLA in relation to the Red  Sky enquiry, show that he puts his party first and the community second.  Throughout the investigation Sammy Wilson acted in the narrow interest of the DUP rather than the public’s interest in terms of his actions related to the investigation into the BBC Spotlight Red Sky programme.

 

“Scrutiny of Sammy Wilson MLA’s attempt to defend his Party’s former Minister and his special advisor inappropriate actions would conclude that they have not been in the public interest. I could only describe his actions as being despicable.

 

“Firstly he disrupted the Social Development Committee with his intervention and ‘thug’ remark just as the DUP Special Advisor was coming under pressure from questioning at the committee¹.  Secondly the Whistle Blower, Cllr Jenny Palmer who was questioned by Mr Wilson for some 35 minutes, claimed his action were “tantamount to bullying”.  Then as the committee was completing the report, a closed committee hearing was disrupted because of Mr Wilson’s abusive accusations.

 

“I believe that Mr Wilson is selfishly putting Party interests before all others.”

 

“The DUP have placed two of their double jobbing MP’s / MLA Sammy Wilson and Gregory Campbell on the Social Development Committee following the questionable actions of their Ministers and their Special Advisor Stephen Brimstone. Some believe this to be an attempt protect their party members who are under the spotlight.

 

Roy Beggs MLA said, “Anyone who listens to and examines Jenny Palmers evidence will conclude that as a whistle blower on inappropriate internal DUP actions, she has been consistent and credible in her evidence to the committee and the media.  The question then falls to Sammy Wilson, why has he given the Whistleblower such a hard time and indeed his party is in the process of disciplining her after collecting her vote at the Super Council AGM?  Whistle blowers should be supported, not abused!

 

“The public must now ask if they want an MP who acts supporting his Party’s interest against the public interest.  Secondly the public must decide if they want a double jobbing MP working in this manner at Stormont when an MP should actually be working for the public at Westminster?

 

“7^th May, One Day, One Vote, One Chance for change ”

Note to editor:

 

1         'Thug' insult row results in NI Assembly committee suspension http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-29644519

2         Sammy Wilson asks if DUP colleague Jenny Palmer lied to committee http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-29938674

3         Whistle Blower accuses Wilson of “tantamount to bullying” http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/minutesofevidencereport.aspx?AgendaId=11269&eveID=6762

      4         Jenny Palmer’s evidence to Social Development. http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/minutesofevidencereport.aspx?AgendaId=10102&eveID=6559

Beggs Criticises Wilsons Failure to End Double Jobbing and Personnally Commits to Full Time Role at Westminster

Ulster Unionist Party Westminster candidate for East Antrim, Roy Beggs, has criticised Sammy Wilson for double jobbing at both Stormont and Westminster despite his Party's commitment to end double jobbing 5 years ago.  Roy has reiterated his commitment to serve as a full time MP for East Antrim in the House of Commons, if elected on the 7th May.




Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs said "You cannot be in two places at once, as the figures show - Sammy attended 64% (23/36) of Social Development Committee meetings in the 13-14 financial year.  During this time, my attendance was 97% on the Health (30/31) Committee and 88% (15/17) on the Assembly Executive and Review Committee.




Mr Wilsons record at Westminster is even worse.  He ranks 633rd out of 650 MPs with regard to his voting record of 32.6% and has only managed to attend 29 out of 83 Public Bill Committee sittings to which he was appointed.  This was only 34.9% attendance on Westminster Committees scrutinising legislation that affects you."




Roy Beggs continued by reiterating his election commitment to not double job - "It is impossible to be in two places at the same time.   Mr Wilsons poor attendance figures would back this up.  I make a clear commitment to the electorate of East Antrim that I would only hold one public office, and if elected on the 7th May, I will give up my seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly."




"During a recent radio interview on the Nolan Show (05/05/15), Sammy Wilson evaded answering the question as to what his political intentions are - he will have to decide whether he wants to be in Westminster or the Assembly.  5 years ago, his Party made a commitment to stamp out double jobbing within weeks.  How many other DUP commitments will not be followed through on?  If he is elected and decided to stand down from Westminster in the course of the next year, this would trigger a costly by-election, funded by the tax payer.  He should have already stood down from the Assembly and given a commitment to serve a 5 year term if elected to Westminster. 


"One day.  One vote. One chance for change.  Vote Beggs "X" on 7th May."




Ends

Stephen Nolan Radio interview 05/05/2015 - (21:09 mins - 25:09mins)http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05sy125

Sammy Wilson Social Development Committee attendance

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/committees/social-development/members-attendance-at-committee-meetings/

Roy Beggs Health Committee attendancehttp://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/committees/health-social-services-and-public-safety/members-attendance-at-committee-meetings/

Roy Beggs Assembly Executive Review Committee attendance
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/committees/assembly-and-executive-review/members-attendance-at-committee-meetings/

Sammy Wilson voting record HoC
http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/40223

http://www.express.co.uk/politics/politicians/democratic-unionist-party/sammy-wilson/38#voting_summary

Sammy Wilson Public Bill Committee attendance
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mla/11374/sammy_Wilson

DUP MPs to Quit Stormont Seats
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8587050.stm

Beggs hits out at pure sectarianism in Sinn Fein literature

Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist Party candidate for East Antrim has hit out at the contents of Sinn Fein election literature, describing them as ‘pure sectarianism’.

Mr Beggs said:

“In the Sinn Fein election literature it states, ‘Oliver is the only MLA representing East Antrim that is NOT a unionist.’ Why have they included this line? I think it is not by chance. He is not the only East Antrim who is not a unionist- Alliance have not been a unionist party for many, many years. What Sinn Fein is basically saying is that their candidate is the only non-Protestant East Antrim MLA. Previously Alliance ran Catholic candidates for Westminster and the Assembly. Clearly Mr McMullan believes that his people should automatically vote for him based on his religious background. This is a pitch for votes which is purely sectarian.

“I am asking for vote based on the fact that I am a unionist- someone who fundamentally believes that the union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the best way forward for all out people, from all religious backgrounds and none, in social economic and cultural terms. The Ulster Unionist Party is best placed to articulate a mainstream, pluralist, non-sectarian pro union voice at Westminster.”