Cameron urged to become first prime minister to visit Rathlin Island

And Ian Paisley further assured the Prime Minister that he would be allowed to leave the island – and would not have to fear being banished to exile on the remote Co Antrim outpost.

There were humourous scenes in the House of Commons on Wednesday when the DUP MP suggested Mr Cameron should become the first British prime minister to take a trip to Rathlin Island.

The Tory leader said he will keep the offer in mind when he next visits the Province.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, North Antrim MP Ian Paisley told Mr Cameron: “Rathlin Island is the only inhabited coastal village/town in my constituency.

“No British prime minister has ever had the honour to visit that part of Ulster.

“I wonder when the Prime Minister plans to visit this remote location, which has considerable economic needs and could generate more employment and tourism.”

In his reply, Mr Cameron joked: “I’m the first British prime minister to visit many parts of our country – the first to go to Shetland for about 30 years.

“But I fear if I went to this island there might be a number of people who’d like me to stay there, but I’ll certainly bear it in mind the next time I visit the Province.”

Mr Paisley told the News Letter he is going to hold the Prime Minister to his word and try to secure a date for his visit as soon as possible.

“After today’s question time I have formally written to him and look forward to him giving me some suggested dates over the next two years when he can come to Rathlin,” he said.

The North Antrim MP added: “Every time I go to Rathlin I am also well received as the community association is always looking for new people to ensure the people remember them and the inland issues are brought to them.

“I have made sure that Rathlin is not allowed to be forgotten, like my father before me.

“Each year I make a point of ensuring that it is raised on the floor of the House of Commons.

“Hansard will have shown that and today was the perfect opportunity to raise it because of the questions on coastal towns – and given that Rathlin is not only an island but an offshore coastal town which is inhabited.

“This was the perfect time to invite him to be the first prime minister to come and visit this part of the UK.”

Rathlin lies five miles north of Ballycastle on the north Antrim coast and just 12 miles west of Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre.