Young
Unionists

It wasn’t that long ago that Members of Parliament were judged by their work and not by the number of shiny suits the owned; they were rewarded with relatively modest salaries and almost non existent expenses. However that day is long gone now and we are left with a raft of MP’s in Northern Ireland who hold 3 or even 4 jobs simultaneously whilst claiming huge expenses for each. All 9 DUP MP’s are also members of the Northern Ireland Assembly. 5 are Minister in the Executive and most of them are members of their local councils.

Our First Minister Peter Robinson and his outspoken wife, Iris, have become notorious throughout the United Kingdom due to the widespread coverage of their huge incomes in this weeks printed press. The Robinson’s claimed a massive £570,000 last year alone between salaries and expenses; they also employ all three children and even a daughter’s husband. It is no wonder they are commonly labelled the Swiss Family Robinson.

However the DUP have now taken the daring step by hoping to add the Swiss Family Dodds to the scene. Councillor Nigel Dodds MP, MLA, Finance Minster and Deputy Leader of the DUP is now hoping that he will be joined on the expenses league table by his wife Diane. The European Parliament is even more open to exploitation than Westminster and since Nigel Dodd’s claimed by far more that any other Northern Ireland MP last year then it is not looking good. However this is all speculative the people of Northern Ireland still have the chance to stop this happening by going out and voting for one of the other candidates for the European Parliament.

It is clear the leaders of the DUP, whether they are the Robinsons, Dodds, Paisleys or McCreas, know how to line their pockets in these tough economic times, but I would really appreciate it if they would share some of their tricks with those who are genuinely facing the threats of financial hardship. But at least we can sleep well at night knowing that we have both put in an honest days work and that we aren’t dependent on ripping off the taxpayers for an income.

The Ulster Unionists are the only party calling for a ban on double, triple or even quadruple jobbing. Since they now have the full backing of the UK Conservative Party they may have the power to change the legislation in the near future under a Conservative Government and that won’t be a minute too soon in my opinion. But I don’t think the Robinsons and Dodd’s will have to think about remortgaging their second homes too soon; they will all retire on healthy pensions, again paid for by me and you.