DUP MPs 'happy to live in Olympic Village'

By Stephen Walker
BBC Northern Ireland political reporter

Mr Campbell said MPs should not profit from Westminster accommodation

DUP MPs would accept living in London's Olympic Village if the site was bought for MPs' accommodation, Gregory Campbell has said.

The East Londonderry MP was giving evidence to the Committee on Standards in Public Life which was meeting in London on Wednesday.

He was responding to questions about the second homes allowance which has been the subject of newspaper headlines in recent weeks.

Asked for his solution to the controversial issue, the DUP MP said his party would live with "whatever system was arrived at".

He told the Westminster committee investigating MPs' expenses that there was not one easy solution, but the new arrangement should be one where MPs did not profit financially.

One suggested venue for MPs is the Olympic Village in east London which will be empty after the 2012 games.

Pressed on whether he liked the idea of living in the village with other MPs, he said: "We will live with whatever is arrived at. If the Olympic Village is the accommodation, we will use our accommodation there".

Sir Christopher Kelly's committee is investigating MPs' expenses

Mr Campbell was also quizzed on the DUP's idea that Sinn Fein MPs should not be given Westminster allowances if they don't take their parliamentary seats.

The DUP MP said it was "absurd" that the current system allowed Sinn Fein to obtain allowances without taking their seats.

Pressed by Committee chairman Sir Christopher Kelly that Sinn Fein were entitled to allowances if they were carrying out parliamentary duties, Mr Campbell said: "Why should they be able to do that if they avail of an allowance that is linked to attendance in the House of Commons?"

Questioned about Sinn Fein's entitlements to overnight expenses, the DUP MP accepted that Sinn Fein's five MPs did travel to London on parliamentary business.

However, he claimed that in his time as an MP, he had never seen a Sinn Fein MP in the precincts of the House after 4pm.

Mr Campbell also confirmed that his party would end the system of double jobbing by 2015.

He also told committee chairman Sir Christopher Kelly that the £10,000 annual communications allowance for MPs should be scrapped.