Ian Paisley Denies £100K Sri Lankan Holiday Claim

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-41198118

From the above link ::::: "The Daily Telegraph said he recently met Sri Lankan officials to discuss the possibility of post-Brexit trade deals with the south Asian country"

I am at a loss to understand how anyone could spend £100,000 on a 2 weeks holiday anywhere, let alone Sri Lanka. But if he did, why did Sri Lankan pay for it ?

Also, can someone explain what there would be to discuss, between Belfast and Sri Lanka, in a "post-Brexit trade deal" ?

[EDDIE51]

just a good excuse for a freebie .
''To discuss the possibility'' means absolutely nothing !
Probably a few words while sitting in a bar drinking free booze!

[murraymints]

just another freebie junket..surprised soapy Salmond wasn't there too !

[mikey4444]

Eddie....but £100,000 ......a mind boggling amount of money to spend on a two-week break !

[naomi24]

//I am at a loss to understand how anyone could spend £100,000 on a 2 weeks holiday anywhere, let alone Sri Lanka. //

It was two holidays for him and his family - and we don't know how many were in his party - and there are some very nice hotels in Sri Lanka - very nice indeed.

[Zacs-Master]

To discuss post Brexit deals? They happened 4 years ago!

[mikey4444]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/ian-paisley-has-his-credit-card-blocked-after-running-up-parliamentary-expenses-debts-of-27000-34512067.html

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/paisley-may-lose-salary-over-silence-on-source-1.782193

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/how-much-did-your-mp-cost-since-they-were-last-elected-1-6728377

Curiouser and curiouser !

[EDDIE51]

He knows there can't be too much said about it as he is one of the DUP MPs who Mrs May is desperately depending on to stay in power.
They can't risk upsetting him in case he abstains from voting and drops May in the Sh***
But it was 2 family holidays not just him alone that got the freebie.

[mikey4444]

Eddie....on the kind of money he is one, he could very well have paid for this himself. If I were one of his Constituents, I would be keen on him answering some very awkward questions right now.

[EDDIE51]

Wish I was an MP. The only trip I got in my last job which lasted 18 years, was a trip to the local sewage works to collect 3 tonnes of fresh sewage sludge to restart my companies water treatment plant. Then I had to pump it out myself.

[EDDIE51]

100% agree mikey. He has always been in the top league for claiming expenses. What was the justification for taking his entire family not just once but twice?

[ToraToraTora]

"Wish I was an MP. The only trip I got in my last job which lasted 18 years, was a trip to the local sewage works to collect 3 tonnes of fresh sewage sludge to restart my companies water treatment plant. Then I had to pump it out myself. " - as long as you've got job satisfaction eddie!

[EDDIE51]

^ It got my water treatment plant up and running again which got me out of sh** with the environment agency. So yes a satisfactory outcome.

[EDDIE51]

Just thinking this has gone from MP's expenses to sewage in just 12 answers, where else but AB ?

[Zacs-Master]

Same subject surely?

[sunny-dave]

ULSTER SAYS N......

...otes in my back pocket, small denominations only please

[ possibly ]

[jno]

I'm hoping to visit Greece later in the month. I'll buy a few things at the corner shop (aka a "trade deal") and ask Athens to pay my holiday costs.

[sandyRoe]

Ulster politicians have a taste for exotic holidays at others expense.
The Official Unionist, Lord Laird, was caught in a sting some time ago promising to influence fellow members of the Lords in return for holidays in Fiji.
I can't see why they don't follow their constituents example and book a mobile home for a week in one of the many caravan sites dotted around the coast of NI.

[aelmpvw]

me neither sandy, i'd rather do that than traipse all the way to fiji

[Old_Geezer]

Not read the details, but it isn't unreasonable for one area of the UK to try to establish good relationships with elsewhere in the world to encourage international investment/trade to their area.

Why Sri Lanka would be willing to fund it, is another issue; but if they did then presumably they considered it a worthwhile investment for them also.

[mikey4444]

OG....not sure when a bribe becomes a "worthwhile investment " ?