Beggs Responds to Wilson Resignation from BCC

The timing of Sammy Wilson MP MLA's announcement that he is to stand down as a Belfast City Councillor has been described as 'utterly cynical' by Ulster unionist MLA for East Antrim , Roy Beggs.

It has been reported that he is stepping down to 'concentrate on the forthcoming general election[1]. He has been combining his East Antrim MP and MLA and Ministerial role with being a Belfast City Councillor to the tune of over £122,500 in combined salaries, not counted two full sets of allowances..

Roy Beggs said,

"Sammy Wilson has again shown an utterly cynical attitude and contempt for the electorate with the timing of this announcement. He is freely admitting that he is not doing this to concentrate fully on his other constituency - East Antrim, where he double jobs as an MP and MLA, or to put his focus on his role as Minister for Finance at Stormont. No, Sammy wants to spend more time trying to get re elected to Westminster ."

"The electorate will soon have their chance to give their verdict on the real double jobbing issue here- a part-time Westminster MP and Stormont Minister receiving a vast amount of salaries and allowances all on the public purse. Sammy Wilson has no credibility as a Finance Minister making budgetary cuts, and taking money out of the Health and Education funds given the drain he personally makes on public finances."

ENDS

[1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8511888.stm

"Mr Wilson said he decided to step aside so he could concentrate on the forthcoming general election."