Document 1: Complaint from Jim Allister QC MLA

From: +Comm Standards & Privileges Public Email

Sent: 28 October 2020 14:35

To: +StandardsCommissioner

Cc: J H Allister [sensitive information redacted]; +Comm Standards & Privileges Public Email

Subject: FW: Complaint against Mr McHugh MLA

Dear Dr McCullough,

Please see the correspondence below from Mr Allister in respect of a complaint which I am forwarding on to you as per Mr Allister's consent.

Kind regards

[sensitive information redacted]

 

From: J H Allister [sensitive information redacted]

Sent: 28 October 2020 10:26

To: +comm Standards & Privileges Public Email <committee.standardsprivileges@niassembly.gov.uk>; [sensitive information redacted]

Subject: Complaint against Mr McHugh MLA

Room 252 Parliament Buildings Stormont

28 October 2020

 

Commissioner for Standards Room 256,

Parliament Buildings,

Belfast, BT4 3XX.

committee.standardsprivileges@niassembly.gov.uk

Dear Commissioner,

Re: Maoliosa McHugh MLA

I wish to request you to investigate the conduct of Mr McHugh in respect of the delay in returning to the public purse £10,000 received under the Covid business support scheme.

According to the BBC Radio Ulster ' Nolan Show' on 28 October 2020 Mr McHugh accepted he had knowledge of receipt of the funds from when it was received. Yet, it appears, the money, to which he patently was not entitled, was not returned until this week. Why?

In presiding over this delay Mr McHugh, I suggest, infringed his Code of Conduct duty as follows:-

• the general duty to act in the interests of the community as a whole;
• should not act in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, their friends or associates;
• support these principles by leadership and example in order to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the people of Northern Ireland;
• Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest