Allister calls for transparency on Jubilee Ticket distribution
19 June 2012
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:
"In light of the controversy and widespread disappointment arising from the apparent paucity of Jubilee Garden party tickets available for public distribution, I am calling for total transparency by the NIO as to how the tickets were distributed.
"There are reports of some politicians and parties having access to hundreds of tickets. In my case I was allocated a total of 5 tickets as an MLA and my party got none. I call on other parties to publicly reveal how many they obtained and how. The distribution of tickets for this event should not be an occasion for patronage by politicians.
"Last week my office sought clarification from the NIO, but we are still waiting for any response as to how and to whom tickets were released.
"I have therefore followed this up with a FOI request asking:
a) how many tickets in total were distributed;
b) how many were distributed to political parties, specifying the number to each;
c) how many were distributed to Northern Ireland MPs, specifying the number to each;
d) how many were distributed to Northern Ireland MLAs, specifying the number to each;
e) how many were distributed to Northern Ireland peers, specifying the number to each;
f) how many were distributed to community groups and/or organisations, specifying the number to each and the name of each organisation;
g) how many were distributed through Ticketmaster, specifying the number allocated (i) on line and (ii) by telephone;
h) how many were otherwise distributed, specifying the methodology, recipients and numbers involved.
