SDLP election promo prompts Stormont probe

An investigation was launched today amid claims that the SDLP broke the rules by using offices at Stormont to promote its election campaign.

Ian Paisley Jr has made a formal complaint to the Speaker saying that SDLP leader John Hume and his deputy Seamus Mallon were filmed inside Stormont for a party political broadcast.

Mr Paisley said: ‘‘We were given two written instructions, one in February and the second in March, that we were not to use the facilities at Stormont for electioneering purposes.

‘‘Part of the SDLP’s election video was filmed in the SDLP offices at Stormont. Seamus Mallon and John Hume spoke from their rooms which had the backdrop of the Prince of Wales entrance,’’ he said.

The North Antrim MLA accused the SDLP of abusing the rules of the Assembly and called for Mr Mallon and Mr Hume to issue an apology.

Dealing with Mr Paisley’s point of order the Speaker Lord Alderdice agreed to refer the matter to the Assembly’s Finance Office, which had issued the instructions governing the election.

A spokeswoman for the Speaker’s Office later confirmed: ‘‘The matter is being investigated and a decision will be taken after it has been completed.

‘‘There was a circular issued through the Finance Office of the Assembly in relation to electioneering and the use of offices within the building.’’

Mr Paisley said that the SDLP must immediately re-edit the party political broadcast to ensure the Stormont footage is removed.

‘‘I think this investigation will prove to be very interesting and the least the House can expect is an apology from the Deputy First Minister and every member who appeared in the video,’’ he added.

A spokesman for the SDLP said the party had checked the matter out with the Office of the Keeper before filming the video.

‘‘We were told that we weren’t allowed to film in the Main Hall and the front steps,’’ he said.