Politics and Podiatry
There's been much talk about the UUP MLA Billy Armstrong's portable building which serves as a constituency office. But then one politician insisted to me that it also doubled up as a base for his daughter's chiropody clinic. Visions of a "one stop shop" arrangement, in which you could get all your political and podiatric needs catered for, swam in front of my eyes. But when I spoke to Billy himself he explained that his daughter's beauty business is based at the historic nineteenth century Prospect House, in Stewartstown, whereas he conducts his constituency business from the portable building sat on the lawn outside. The UUP MLA says a joint venture simply wouldn't work. "To benefit from Juli's treatments" clarified Billy " you have to be 100% relaxed, whereas a lot of the people who come to me are up to high doh".
For those keen on a Stewartstown treatment, here is Juli's website.
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£6,284.06 the amount of expenses claimed since 8/05/08. How much rent was included in the claim & who was the rent paid to?
Might just be a case suitable for examination by the Assembly Standards & Priveleges Committee....!
How does Mr Armrtrong explain this then?
How does a portacabin on his lawn count as an extension?
How would an extension not need planning permission?
How does a portacabin for which you are operating an office not require planning permission?
If his daughter isn't running a business at his home as he told you, how come there is retrospective planning permission being sought for it to remedy a breach?
Does Mr Armstrong does not understand the requirements for planning permission or even what is going on in his own house?
I'd hate to be going to his constitency office for advice...no wonder the the constituents are "up to high doh"!
I could do with a visit to Juli's place, nice head massage does wonders when you think about politics too much!
Give Billy Armstrong a break. He was entitled to claim £48,000 but he kept costs down as tight as he could so no-one could say he claimed the full whack. As the record shows, he only claimed £47,970.41 ....
.... and this is the same man who is a member of the Assembly committee advising on planning?