Paisley Under Fire Over Son's Job

A complaint has been made to the British parliamentary standards commissioner about Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley employing his son as a researcher.

Ian Paisley Jnr was receiving a salary from his father's Westminster allowance of between GBP£9,000 and GBP£11,000.

He was receiving the payment as well as £62,000 a year for his posts as a NI junior minister and an MLA.

Commissioner John Lyon will examine the complaint before deciding whether it merits a full investigation.

Mr Paisley Jnr has been working as a research assistant for his MP father since 1998.

Meanwhile, East Londonderry MLA and MP Gregory Campbell has confirmed he is renting a constituency office in Coleraine from his wife.

Mr Campbell is using assembly allowances to pay more than £12,000 per year to his wife for use of a property in th town's Bushmills Road.

Paying relatives for rent is not allowed under Westminster rules, but is permitted by rules governing Stormont.