Ian Paisley Jr

Last updated

Fiona Currie
​
(m. 1990)​
The Honourable
Ian Paisley Jr
MP
Official portrait of Ian Paisley MP crop 2.jpg
Official portrait, 2020
Member of Parliament
for North Antrim
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Children4
Parents
Alma mater Queen's University Belfast
Website Official website

Ian Richard Kyle Paisley Jr [1] (born 12 December 1966) is a British unionist politician. A member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), he has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Antrim since the 2010 general election, and was previously a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim from 1998 to 2010. Paisley is the DUP's Spokesperson for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports. [2] He is a son of the DUP's founder Ian Paisley.

Contents

Childhood

Born in Belfast in 1966, Paisley is the youngest child of the Reverend Ian Paisley and his wife Eileen Paisley, Baroness Paisley of St George's. The younger Ian, along with his twin brother (Kyle) and his three elder sisters (Sharon, Rhonda and Cherith), was brought up in a large detached house on Cyprus Avenue in east Belfast. [3] Being the younger of the twins, he was named after his father who was the younger of two brothers. [3] He regularly attended the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster (where his father preached) from a very young age. [3] In August 2007, he was the subject of the third episode of the BBC Radio 4 series The House I Grew Up In in which he talked about a happy childhood and secure family life, despite the Troubles. [3]

Education

After leaving primary school, Paisley was educated at Shaftesbury House College, and then in the sixth form at Methodist College Belfast, before gaining admission to Queen's University Belfast. [3] There he gained a BA (Hons) in Modern History followed by a MSSc in Irish Politics. After finishing his postgraduate studies, he worked for his father as a political researcher and parliamentary aide.

Political career

In 1996, Paisley was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for North Antrim. He was returned for the constituency to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998. He is one of three DUP members who have taken their seats on the Northern Ireland Policing Board, and is also the party's justice spokesman and press officer.

Paisley successfully ran to succeed his father as the MP for North Antrim in the 2010 UK general election, winning 46.4% of the vote share. [4] Upon his election as MP, he resigned his seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Although there were rumours that Paisley Jr was positioning himself to become leader of his party, he denies any such ambition: "I've no ambition for that at all. I've never had any ambition to get anywhere beyond where I am today. Some people sought to put the knife in, in order to stop me, because they were concerned about me wanting to be leader. Well, they misjudged me completely." [4]

In 2022, Paisley introduced legislation that would affect Northern Ireland's ability to leave the United Kingdom. Paisley's bill would change the law so that a simple majority vote would no longer be enough for reunification with Ireland. [5]

Expenses

For the 2011–12 financial year, Paisley's total expenses claim was the seventh-highest of all members of parliament. [6] His expenses for the 2012–13 financial year were £232,000; the highest of any MP that year. The costs covered travel and accommodation for Paisley himself and his constituency staff. [7] In an interview with the Ballymena Times , Paisley stated "None of this money goes to me as MP ... They are legitimate expenses signed off by IPSA and paid directly by the Parliament". [6] He had the second-highest expenses claim in the 2013–14 financial year. For the 2014–15 financial year, he was again the second-highest claimant, receiving £227,000 in expenses. [8] During the 2010–2015 Parliament, Paisley claimed a total of £1,112,667 in expenses. [9]

Brexit

Paisley strongly supported "Vote Leave" in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and was a supporter of the Eurosceptic campaign Leave Means Leave. While rejecting calls by Republican party Sinn Féin for a referendum in Northern Ireland on a unified Ireland, he advised his constituents to get an Irish passport if they were eligible. [10]

In 2018 Paisley was suspended from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days, beginning on 4 September 2018, because he broke paid advocacy rules by receiving hospitality from the Sri Lankan government without declaring that to the Commons. Following his suspension, the Recall of MPs Act 2015 was invoked for the first time since it received Royal Assent. However, the resulting recall petition—the first in British parliamentary history—was signed by only 9.4% of registered voters, below the 10% threshold to trigger a by-election. Paisley's membership of the DUP was suspended between 24 July and 18 September 2018, during internal investigations by the party into his conduct.

Electoral Commission fine

In September 2020, Paisley was fined £1,300 (€1,400) by the Electoral Commission for accepting a total of £2,600 from two local councils to purchase tables at a fund-raising event at the Tullyglass hotel in Ballymena in September 2017. Paisley also agreed to pay back the money. [11]

Association with Jo Bamford

In 2019, Paisley helped JCB heir Jo Bamford purchase Wrightbus, the financially troubled manufacturer of London's famous double-decker buses. Jeff Wright, then-owner of Wrightbus, publicly complained of Paisley's alleged interference into the negotiations of the sale of Wrightbus to Bamford. [12] Once the purchase was complete, Bamford publicly praised Paisley for his help. [13]

On 12 October 2019 Paisley wrote an op-ed in the Belfast Telegraph in which he praised Bamford and thanked him for buying Wrightbus. [14]

Controversy

Loyalist Volunteer Force rally

In March 1998, Paisley and Sammy Wilson spoke at a rally in Portadown organised by the paramilitary Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) in opposition to political negotiations preceding the Good Friday Agreement. Their appearance was widely criticised; the rally came hours after the funeral for two men murdered by the LVF, Philip Allen and Damien Trainor – one a Protestant, one a Catholic – in a bar in Poyntzpass, County Armagh, in an indiscriminate sectarian attack. [15] At the rally, Paisley told followers of the late LVF leader Billy Wright "...the sooner this government wakes up to the reality that you can't talk to the Provisional IRA to get peace - the only way to get peace out of the Provisional IRA is to exterminate them, put them out of business". [16]

Views on homosexuality

In 2005, Paisley came under some criticism for his beliefs about homosexuality and same-sex marriages.[ clarification needed ] Upon learning that David Trimble's aide, Steven King, had married his partner in Canada, Paisley was quoted as saying, "It is really astounding that David Trimble should have had a man such as this giving him advice – and must surely cast grave doubts on his own political judgement. I think these sorts of relationships are immoral, offensive and obnoxious." [17] [18]

Paisley caused further controversy in May 2007 when, in an interview with journalist Jason O'Toole in Hot Press magazine, he said that "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong. I think that those people harm themselves and – without caring about it – harm society. That doesn't mean to say that I hate them – I mean, I hate what they do." [19]

In 2011, Paisley said of his previous comments: "I think I have grown up since then. I have strong Christian beliefs and moral viewpoints, but you have to realise that while sin is black and white, life is a lot of grey. You have to be mature about these things. I can strongly disagree with those viewpoints, but the point is how you disagree." [20]

University graduation

Paisley was unable to graduate from his MSSc in the summer graduation period, due to having exceeded the word count on his dissertation, and instead graduated in the winter period of 1994. The summer of 1994 was the last year Queen's University Belfast played the British national anthem; [21] Paisley responded by playing the anthem on a tape recorder during his winter graduation. [22]

Property developers

Paisley had been linked in press reports to local property developer Seymour Sweeney when, in 2007, Sweeney admitted that Paisley had lobbied on his behalf regarding plans for a private visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. Paisley strongly denied that he had any financial relationship with Sweeney, although he admitted that he had gone deep sea fishing with the developer socially. [23]

Paisley had been involved in the commercial development of the north Antrim coast and strongly supported Alistair Hanna's controversial Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa proposal, an 18-hole golf course and hotel complex at Runkerry, adjacent to the Giant's Causeway. [24] There were a series of public blunders and further controversy in February 2008, following scrutiny on the employment of family members by politicians after the Derek Conway scandal, when it emerged that Paisley was on his father's payroll as a researcher in the constituency of North Antrim in addition to his roles as an MLA and a junior minister. [25] As a result, Paisley resigned his junior minister position on 18 February 2008. [26]

Dissident republican comments

Further controversy occurred in August 2008 when Paisley, speaking after a number of attacks on the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said that dissident republicans should be "shot on sight". [27]

2013 Sri Lankan hospitality, and lobbying for a foreign government

In September 2017, The Daily Telegraph alleged that Paisley received hospitality from the government of Sri Lanka for two visits there in 2013 without declaring it, and pointed out that he had been involved in securing a post-Brexit trade deal with that country. [28] However, Paisley stated that the claims were defamatory and that he had referred the matter to his solicitor. [29]

In July 2018, the House of Commons Standards Committee recommended that Paisley be suspended from the Commons for 30 sitting days, for not declaring visits to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government, and for breaking the Commons rule banning paid advocacy. The Committee concluded that Paisley's actions amounted to serious misconduct. The Committee suggested that Paisley's failure to register his visit to Sri Lanka occurred because he was conscious of the potential embarrassment that would be caused to him were it to become publicly known that he had accepted very expensive hospitality, for himself and his family, from a foreign government accused of serious human rights violations. [30]

On 24 July 2018, MPs voted to suspend Paisley from the House of Commons for a period of 30 sitting days, beginning on 4 September 2018. His salary was also to be withheld for 30 days. The DUP released a statement confirming that the party officers had decided to suspend him from the party until an internal investigation were held into his conduct. The Speaker of the House of Commons confirmed he would write to the Chief Electoral Officer in Northern Ireland to initiate the MP recall mechanisms, as specified in the Recall of MPs Act 2015. A recall petition opened on 8 August. [31]

On 20 September 2018, the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland announced the recall petition had fallen 444 votes short of the number needed to spark a by-election. [32] Following this result, the DUP announced that it had lifted Ian Paisley's party suspension on 18 September, but had banned him from taking any party office for a year. [33]

Paisley visited Sri Lanka twice; the first occasion was from 30 March 2013 until 5 April, and the second occasion from 2 July 2013 until 11 July. [34] In their family visa application submitted to the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, all six who travelled declared that the purpose of their visit to Sri Lanka was "official". [34]

Criticism of journalist

In September 2019, following the publication of an analytical article written by journalist Sam McBride in the Belfast News Letter , concerning the DUP's ongoing negotiations in Stormont, Paisley criticised McBride online, calling him "despicable", "immature", and "simplistic". In response, the National Union of Journalists condemned the remarks as an "unwarranted personal attack" on the journalist. Following further criticism, Paisley apologised, stating that he "expressed [himself] badly". [35]

Maldives trip

In 2016, Paisley and his family took a holiday to a resort in the Maldives, a trip that he did not disclose as he was required to do. He took the trip months after advocating on behalf the Maldivian government. An investigation concluded that Paisley had failed to properly register the visit, and that his hospitality had likely not been paid for by a friend, as he had claimed. However, he was found not to have broken any rules on “paid advocacy.” [36]

Personal life

Paisley married Fiona in 1990; they have four children. He is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. [37]

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References

  1. ↑ "Paisley, Hon. Ian Richard Kyle" . Who's Who . A & C Black. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U29917.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ "Ian Paisley MP". DUP. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "The House I Grew Up In, featuring Paisley Jr.". The House I Grew Up In. 20 August 2007. BBC Radio 4.
  4. 1 2 "Ian Paisley Jr: 'I've always been proud of dad – and proud to bear his name'". The Independent. London. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Paisley Bill aims to add additional requirements for any future border poll". www.newsletter.co.uk. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. 1 2 Black, Rebecca (13 September 2013). "Ian Paisley defends having highest expenses claim by any MP". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "DUP's Ian Paisley Jr had highest expenses claim". BBC News. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Monaghan, John (11 September 2015). "DUP MPs top UK parliamentary expenses table". The Irish News. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  9. ↑ McBride, Sam (11 April 2015). "Election Diary: NI's MPs cost £15.6m since last elected". The News Letter. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  10. ↑ Payton, Matt (25 June 2016). "Ian Paisley Jr urges Northern Irish citizens to apply for Republic of Ireland passports". The Independent. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "Ian Paisley jnr fined over breach of political donations rules". The Irish Times . 15 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Murray, Gemma. “Jeff Wright statement in FULL.” Belfast News Letter. 2019-10-10.
  13. ↑ Blackadder, Dessie. “Bamford ‘deal done with Wright family’ - praises MP for hard work.” Ballymena Guardian. 2019-10-11.
  14. ↑ Paisley, Ian. “Move by Bamford a vote of confidence in workforce.” Belfast Telegraph. 2019-10-12.
  15. ↑ Sunday Life, 8 March 1998.
  16. ↑ BBC Panorama: Extreme Pressures (Television documentary). BBC. 6 April 1998.
  17. ↑ Belfast Telegraph, 31 January 2005.
  18. ↑ Paisley censured for homophobic comments RTÉ News, 3 February 2005.
  19. ↑ Row over 'repulsive gays' comment BBC News, 30 May 2007
  20. ↑ "Ian Paisley Jr says he has 'grown up' over anti-gay views". Pink News . 13 May 2011.
  21. ↑ "Belfast's Main University Drops 'God Save the Queen'". Associated Press.
  22. ↑ Sheeran, Robin (28 September 2007). "Politics Show – Student Politics". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  23. ↑ —
  24. ↑ "Runkerry golf resort plan gets green light". BBC News. 21 February 2012.
  25. ↑ Paisley Jr on father's MP payroll BBC News, 6 February 2008
  26. ↑ "Paisley Jnr resigns as minister". BBC News. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  27. ↑ "Paisley defends lethal force call". BBC News. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  28. ↑ Newell, Claire; Malnick, Edward; Smith, Nicola (7 September 2017). "The MP, the £100k gifts and the Brexit trade deal: Questions over Ian Paisley Jr's register of interests after Sri Lanka trip". The Telegraph.
  29. ↑ "Paisley Jr says Telegraph claims defamatory". RTÉ News. 8 September 2017.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  30. ↑ "House of Commons Committee on Standards, Ian Paisley, Third Report of Session 2017–19" (PDF). House of Commons. 17 July 2018.
  31. ↑ McCormack, Jayne (16 August 2018). "Ian Paisley recall petition opens". BBC News.
  32. ↑ "DUP's Ian Paisley adds recall petition result to Twitter biography". Belfast Telegraph.
  33. ↑ "DUP lifts Ian Paisley suspension following recall – Sinn Fein's O'Neill says 'he should have been sacked'". Belfast Telegraph.
  34. 1 2 "Inside story of Paisley family visits and Vaas Gunawardena's ploys". Sri Lanka: the Sunday Times. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  35. ↑ "Ian Paisley apologises for criticising journalist". BBC News. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  36. ↑ "Ian Paisley 'broke rules' over Maldives family holiday". BBC News. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  37. ↑ "Co-Chairmen – Political Advisory Board – Supporters". Leave Means Leave. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
Northern Ireland Forum
New forum Member for North Antrim
1996–1998		Forum dissolved
Northern Ireland Assembly
New assembly MLA for North Antrim
1998–2010		Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for North Antrim
2010–present		Incumbent
Political offices
Vacant
Office suspended
Title last held by
James Leslie 		Junior Minister
2007–2008		Succeeded by
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