Northern 'Double Jobbing' To End

The North's Assembly members have voted to phase out so-called 'double jobbing' within five years.

An earlier motion by the Ulster Unionists to end the practice by 2011 failed to gain necessary support.

Many politicians in the province hold more than one electoral mandate. Around two thirds of the 108 strong Assembly are currently sitting councillors.

Sixteen of Northern Ireland's 18 Westminster MPs are also MLAs.

The UUP's David McNarry last night said this was no longer acceptable.

Amid counter accusations of hypocrisy between the UUP and Democratic Unionists, a DUP amendment to to phase out the practice by 2015 won 34 votes to 23.

DUP members said the UUP was content to participate in 'double jobbing' back when it held more Parliamentary seats. At present the UUP has only one MP, Lady Hermon in North Down. The DUP has nine MPs, all of whom are Assembly members.

Peter Robinson and Sammy Wilson also hold Executive ministerial posts.

Progressive Unionist leader, and the party's sole MLA, Dawn Purvis lent her support to the UUP.

She said there was no reason why 'double jobbing' could not end at the closure of the next Assembly term.

"I think the extent to which this assembly has debated the issue of multiple mandates without actually doing anything about it is comical," said Ms Purvis.

"I agree wholly with the authors of this motion that multiple mandates need to come to an end by the 2011 assembly elections and that the political parties in this province need to start preparing for that deadline."

(PR/GK)