Lo says Alliance are only party that took action to end MP double-jobbing

South Belfast Alliance MLA Anna Lo has slammed the DUP, SDLP and Sinn Fein on MP double jobbing. All of Sinn Fein’s, two of the SDLP’s and two of the DUP’s MPs are MLAs, but Alliance’s Naomi Long gave up her seat in the Assembly after being elected to Westminster. Anna said that their double-jobbing policies show that Alliance is now the only big party in Northern Ireland that are against MP double-jobbing.

Anna Lo MLA said: “The public are deeply annoyed about MP double-jobbing, particularly after the MPs’ expenses scandal before the last election. It is a particularly strange that DUP, Sinn Fein and the SDLP still have a number of double-jobbing MPs given that these parties made such a song and dance about telling everyone they were trying to phase out this type of activity.

“It’s a real pity that other parties have not been able to practice what they preach because people do not want their MPs to be MLAs as well. The two jobs are simply incompatible in terms of time commitment.

“When Naomi Long was elected as MP for East Belfast, she stood down and was replaced at the Assembly by Chris Lyttle and by Laura McNamee at council level. Alliance is now the only party in Northern fully committed to ending MP double-jobbing.”

ENDS