That was then, but this is now...
When David Cameron visited Portadown and Ballymena during the European election campaign he seemed pretty unequivocal about his intention to cut Sinn Fein MPs' Westminster allowances. That as echoed by the Secretary of State Owen Paterson who, in opposition, said he thought it would be inconceivable that Tory MPs would vote for the allowances to continue.
But when Mr Cameron visited Stormont Castle as Prime Minister he didn't repeat the line, indicating only that this was a matter for the House of Commons.
Now the DUP are claiming a Tory U turn, as Ian Paisley Junior raised the issue with the Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young who confirmed it is no longer a matter for the government of the UK but for the independent panel known as IPSA.
I'm still waiting to peruse the Commons transcript of the exchange (which hasn't yet been posted up) but Ian Junior claims it is an indication that the Conservatives are backing away from their promises on both dual mandates and Sinn Fein allowances, for fear of offending republicans.
I'm 
Comments