Christian MP caught up in expenses scandal narrowly survives recall petition

The Christian and member of Parliament also hailed his family and “true friends” for sticking by him after he narrowly avoided a by-election.

Mr Paisley would have been ousted as an MP if 10 per cent of the electorate in his North Antrim constituency – 7,543 voters – signed the petition. In the event 7,099 people signed it (9.4 per cent).

The petition device, created following the Westminster expenses scandal, was initiated after Mr Paisley was banned from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days for failing to declare two 2013 family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

A parliamentary watchdog found in July that a year after the luxury holidays, Mr Paisley lobbied then prime minister David Cameron not to support a UN probe into alleged Sri Lankan human rights abuses.

In a statement to the Press Association, Mr Paisley said the “electorate had spoken”.

“In July I apologised for a mistake made almost six years ago.”

“The electorate was asked to pass judgment. 90.6% have accepted my apology.

“The electorate has clearly spoken.

“I would like to thank my true friends, family, the electorate who have stood by me with unwavering support. Hallelujah.”

The long-standing Democratic Unionist, whose late father the Reverend Ian Paisley founded the party, is currently suspended from the DUP pending its own internal investigation into his conduct.

Three centres were…