Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Rotheram Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd March 2011

(13 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that any donation over £7,500 has to be declared to the Electoral Commission, as it does in the rest of the UK, so that is covered. When we move towards a Bill on the whole issue of elections in Northern Ireland, we can certainly look at that issue, along with other anomalies that we believe exist.

Steve Rotheram Portrait Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab)
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The Ulster Conservative and Unionist New Force was the snappy title given to the alliance adopted by the Conservative party and the Ulster Unionists in last year’s general election. Will the Secretary of State share with the House how the new force in UK politics is doing these days?

Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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We remain committed to bringing national politics to Northern Ireland. I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman’s question is within the scope of the subject of registration of political donations, but I can assure him that many people in Northern Ireland and in the rest of the United Kingdom wish to support a Conservative party, which is why we are in government and he is not.