DUP lifts Paisley suspension after petition recall

by Q Radio news

North Antrim DUP MP Ian Paisley has had his suspension from the party lifted.

In a statement the party said the suspension was removed on Tuesday, the day before a petition recall in his constituency closed.

Hours earlier Mr. Paisley survived a bid to oust him when the recall failed to get the required number of votes to force a by-election.

Mr Paisley will be subject to a number of conditions including a ban on holding office within the party for twelve months.

Ian Paisley has told Q Radio he's "delighted" to be readmitted to the DUP following a party investigation into his conduct. pic.twitter.com/MysJvwvaEd

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) September 20, 2018

He was suspended by the DUP in July after a parliamentary watchdog found that a year after receiving luxury holidays, Mr Paisley lobbied then prime minister David Cameron not to support a UN probe into alleged Sri Lankan human rights abuses.

The petition of recall process opened after Mr Paisley was given a 30 day ban from the Commons, the longest on record for any MP.

Only 9.4 per cent of the electorate in the north Antrim constituency went on to sign the petition - just short of the 10 per cent needed to unseat him.