Donaldson under pressure to hold by-election

A Northern Ireland MP who switched parties came under more pressure today to resign his Westminster seat and seek a new mandate from voters.

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who defected on Monday from the Ulster Unionists to the DUP, was urged by a cross community Alliance Assembly member to give serious consideration to a by-election.

Alliance MLA Seamus Close said: “There has been a lot of reference in the past few days about the rights and wrongs of what Jeffrey did.

“I believe the 14,000 people who voted for Jeffrey in November should be asked what they think of the move.

“I am struck that in the comments about this defection the words ‘honour’ and ‘integrity’ are coming very much to the fore.

“If one looks at previous election literature from Jeffrey, honour and integrity was something that he brought to the fore, as was the phrase ‘the politician you can trust’.

“He was also critical of (former Ulster Unionist Assembly chief whip) Ivan Davis for standing as independent and accused him of jumping from one party to another.

“The words ‘pot, kettle and black’ spring to mind. I feel if honour and integrity is something that is so important – and to me it is – why doesn’t Jeffrey say a by-election will be held, instead of there is going to be a general election in 18 months time?

“Should he not give more consideration to what the people might want?”

Yesterday Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said Mr Donaldson should consider resigning his House of Commons seat, arguing people who voted for his former colleague felt let down.

“A lot of people in Lagan Valley feel there should be a by-election,” the Upper Bann MP insisted.

“I think it is a matter for Mr Donaldson’s honour and integrity.

“It is up to him to decide. It lies in his hands.

“I actually live in Lagan Valley and I voted for Jeffrey and I feel let down.”

Mr Donaldson, who on Monday said he quit the Ulster Unionist Party because it no longer held core unionist principles, replied that it was his plan to face the electorate at the next general election.

He in turn challenged David Trimble to quit as Ulster Unionist leader.

“There have been many defections in the past from the DUP to the UUP and I am not aware of any instances where those public representatives, people like (East Antrim MP) Roy Beggs and Ivan Davis, ever called a by-election.

“The fact is that we are probably going to have a general election in 18 months’ time,” he responded.

“A parliamentary by-election would cost thousands of pounds in terms of the costs incurred by the Electoral Office and police.

“Is Mr Trimble suggesting that that money would not be better spent on hospitals or schools in the Lagan Valley and elsewhere?

“I am happy to put my position to the people of Lagan Valley when the general election takes place, probably in 18 months’ time.

“I will continue the work I have been elected to do and to work for the change that Mr Trimble has not delivered.”