Row over by-election date for Iris seat
CHIEF Electoral Officer Douglas Bain has defended his office from criticism over the length of time taken for setting the by-election date to decide on Iris Robinson's Castlereagh Council replacement.
TUV leader Jim Allister accused Mr Bain's office of prevaricating over whether to hold the by-election before or on the same day as the general election.
He said that there had been "far too much delay already" in fixing a date for the by-election to replace the former Castlereagh Alderman. The poll will be the only election held for any of Mrs Robinson's three political positions.
Speaking one week after the council decided to hold a by-election, the former MEP claimed that in the past by-election dates had been fixed more quickly.
"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," he said.
But last night Mr Bain rejected the criticism, revealing that although Castlereagh Council decided on the by-election last Monday night, it was last Wednesday before he was formally notified by letter from the council that the by-election would have to be called.
However, prior to receiving the letter Mr Bain had arranged to meet Castlereagh officials today to discuss arrangements for the election.
The Electoral Office said that Mr Bain had received no correspondence from the DUP on the issue and strongly rejected that the party was in any way influencing his decision.
And he said that legally he did not need to call an election for another three weeks.
"The date for the by-election will be announced as soon as practicable," he said.
"The law provides that the Notice of Election must be published within 21 days of February 24, which was the date on which I was satisfied that a vacancy had occurred. That period expires on March 26."
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said that Mr Bain's office contacted all political parties last week asking for their views on holding the by-election on the same date as the general election.
Sir Reg said that the UUP had objected, partly because there are differences in electoral law about the forms of identification which voters can use and voting systems for Westminster and council elections.
That, he said, had the potential to confuse voters.
"This election should be held as soon as practical," he said.
Since it became clear that a by-election was inevitable, there has been uncertainty about whether the by-election will be called for the same day as the general election.
However, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown has not yet called a Westminster election, a date for the Castlereagh poll may have to be set before the general election date is known.
Once the date for the by-election is set it cannot be altered, even if Mr Brown calls a general election.
Last month the DUP attempted to stop a by-election taking place, instead trying to have 24-year-old community worker Sharon Skillen co-opted onto the council.
However, former DUP councillor Charlie Tosh and Alliance Alderman Geraldine Rice objected to the co-option, arguing that the electorate should have a say on Mrs Robinson's replacement, particularly given the nature of her departure from public life.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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