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The Nolan Show: We reveal that the DUP fines MPs and MLAs if they do media interviews which haven't been authorised by the party

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12/06/2018

We reveal that the DUP fines MPs and MLAs if they do media interviews which haven't been authorised by the party

BBC Radio Ulster - The Nolan Show, We reveal that the DUP fines MPs and MLAs if they do media interviews which haven't been authorised by the party

Nolan Show exclusive - we reveal that the DUP fines MPs and MLAs if they do media interviews which haven't been authorised by the party.

The Nolan Show can reveal that the DUP has issued financial fines to some of their own political representatives if they speak without the permission of the DUP press office. The Nolan Show has been told that fines in the party start at £100, escalate to £500 and then £1000 for a third offence. The "offence" is the elected representatives telling their constituents through the media what they believe in, unless it is approved by the DUP press office. This raises a fundamental question about freedom of speech within our democracy. Is it right that democratically elected representatives are stopped from expressing in public what they really think, with the threat of fines of up to £1000 being imposed upon them? Or is this what a modern political party has to do to keep discipline and a coordinated message? The former commissioner on public standards, Sir Alistair Graham, described this as 'undermining democracy'. The Nolan Show has spoken to a number of senior politicians within the DUP. One politician has spoken to us on condition of anonymity and so we've used an actor to voice up the words. The man referred to in this recording as Timothy - is Timothy Johnston. He was a senior Special Advisor in the DUP and is now the DUP's Chief Executive. Stephen spoke to the former Commissioner on Public Standards, Sir Alistair Graham, SDLP MLA Colin McGrath, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, commentator Malachi O'Doherty, Irish News journalist Allison Morris and Newsletter political editor Sam McBride.

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We reveal that the DUP fines MPs and MLAs if they do media interviews which haven't been authorised by the party

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