Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The DUP insist there's nothing fishy about Stephen Moutray being moved off the Assembly Commission, just days after the party rejected the scheme for reforming expenses which had been drawn up during his time on the Commission. They point out that the Upper Bann MLA has been promoted a high profile job as chair of the Agriculture Committee, taking over from Ian Paisley Junior.

However Sinn Fein doesn't buy this version. Their Chief Whip CarΓ΅l NΓ­ ChuilΓ­n says "it is clear that there are divisions within the DUP about the approach to MLA expenses claims. For months Mr Moutray worked with other parties and came to agreement on the new transparent system. His Assembly colleagues obviously felt unable to live with such an open system and Mr Moutray has now paid the price with his removal from the Assembly Commission."

Whichever version you believe, you can peruse the Assembly Commission's aborted expenses proposals with the summary of recommendations on page 31.

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