Why is Electoral Office stalling on Castlereagh by-election?
01 March 2010
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
"It is almost a week since Castlereagh Council occasioned a by-election to fill Iris Robinson's seat, yet the Chief Electoral Officer has failed to expeditiously fix a date for the poll? In past by-election scenarios there has not been such delay. Moreover, established precedent is to move swiftly to a date so as to fill the democratic deficit which a vacant seat creates.
"In this case I suspect the DUP is anxious to postpone a poll till the General Election or thereafter, as they wish to avoid a test of opinion before the Westminster election, particularly in East Belfast. The Chief Electoral Officer should be immune from such pressures. I am therefore calling on him to get on with fixing an early date for this important by-election. There has been too much delay already."
